Tyrant (Lazaretto Sequel)

eighteen

May 10, 2094

VAL

"Ms. Jauregui, I hope you understand that there will be tremendous repercussions to your actions. Here in Region Four, the people are already wanting to wage a war."

Putting my palms flat against the table and resting my weight on them, I dipped my head out of the frame and sighed. What am I going to do? I looked back up at the five Commanders of the other regions, their faces fitted into square monitors in front of me. They all looked concerned and tired, and I could tell that the people of their regions have been keeping them up with questions and riots in the streets...all because of me.

"Ms. Jauregui, are you there?" Commander Solomon of Region Four asked. He was a stout man, his thin lips forming a straight line. The grey hair on his head combed and gelled to the side, his dark grey suit and red tie were barely visible in the screen.

"Yes, I'm here," I said. 

In the last week that I had officially been the Commander of Region One, I hadn't gotten much sleep. Between meetings and phone calls, I barely had time to eat, and not to mention the chaos that was happening in the city. Stores and shops were being broken into, people were setting buildings on fire just because. The air smelled of ash and anger.

"We all agree that it would be in your best interest to hold a press conference and tell the people of Region One that you are revoking the new rule of the newborns. Until then, we will all suffer." I looked at the screen to see Commander Swift of Region Six. She was a younger woman like myself, her hair the color of hay. She looked nervous as she gulped. She was pleading with me to end it, to tell the people that I had made a grave mistake. I rubbed my eyes out of frustration as I groaned.

"I'm not revoking the rule. It will stand as is," I returned. The five Commanders sighed, some shaking their heads.

"Phoenix and Denver are collapsing. I have had to add more security to the facilities there, as well as my own home. It's an outrage. Pretty soon the other capitals will revolt, and when they do, the facilities will be gone...for good," Commander Langley of Region Five deadpanned as he looked at me. He removed his square-rimmed glasses to rub his eyes before situating them back on his wrinkled face. "You have to do something, Ms. Jauregui, before our nation as we know it is ruined once more. We cannot withstand another downfall. We're still recovering from the depression of '24."

"We could have another civil war on our hands in a matter of months, and I don't want it to get to that point. Region Two, like the others, is crippling. I can't leave my own home in fear of being attacked. My family is in danger. You've started a war, Valerie...and I don't know if you'll be able to surrender," Commander Allman said.

Surrendering was the last thing on my mind. I clenched my jaw out of anger, my hands instinctively tightened into fists as I looked at the five Commanders displayed in front of me. If I revoke the new rule about the newborns, I wouldn't get Ally's child, I wouldn't get my revenge on the girl that stole everything from me...and I was not going to let that happen. I was having an internal battle with my head and my heart. Shaking my head as the tears started to threaten, I closed my eyes tightly to usher them away. I couldn't cry in front of my fellow Commanders. I had to remain strong, to show them that I wasn't backing down that easily.

"Your mother would have never let this happen." 

I turned my head back slowly to see Commander Ruston of Region Three take a labored breath. He knew that he had crossed the line, and I narrowed my eyes at him. If a war were to break out, I was coming for him first.

"I'm not revoking the rule, Commanders. If you want to wage a war, then fire the first cannons. Just know that I have the heavy artillery, I have an arsenal of the most powerful weapons that will make your guns look like child's play. The rule stands, end of discussion." There was an insurmountable period of silence amongst the Commanders. My chest heaved in and out, waiting for someone to say something...waiting for someone to declare war. I could feel my palms become sweaty in anticipation as I had gotten a call from a scientist in Augusta only yesterday that agreed to make the contacts for me in exchange for his family's freedom from the facility. I had all of the ammo I would ever need.