Hidden ( being rewritten)

Chapter Nine

[Syrena]

I was sitting at my desk, sorting through some papers when Ariana walked in, an obviously fake smile plastered on her face.

"Yes, Agent Livingston?" I asked as she walked up to me.

"I have the raw footage from the Trials announcement, ma'am," Ariana placed a tiny silver cube no bigger than my thumb on my desk.

"Good. When will it air?" I asked.

"As soon as you approve it."

"Alright. Let's see what you've got," I placed my hand on the cube and it beeped, recognizing my fingerprint.

Whirring softly, it split down the middle multiple times, growing bigger and flatter until it was a long, thin sheet. A woman's face appeared on the screen and she began to speak.

"Citizens of the Aggregate of Communities, welcome to Leadership District Television. First up on LDTV is breaking news! As the commencement date of the Aggregate's Tenth Leadership Trials approaches, we'll be taking an exclusive look at the candidates vying for the chance to be Supreme Leader Syrena Hutchinson's successor! First up is Councillor Vyvienne Hutchinson, aunt of the current Supreme Leader and a member of the Council."

The frame broadened, revealing the podium and stage the anchor was standing on. My aunt walked on as confident as ever, smiling and waving to the cameras.

"So, Councillor Hutchinson, we know you lost the Ninth Leadership Trials to your sister Claudia. How are you feeling about your second attempt?"

"I'm feeling amazing," Vyvienne beamed. "I'm far more ready than I was last time. I know what to expect this time, and I'm anticipating much better results."

"That's wonderful!" The anchor smiled, turning back to the audience. "And Councillor Hutchinson certainly has the right to be confident, she's currently the crowd favorite of these Trials! Good luck, Councillor," she shook my aunt's hand.

I watched, bored, as she went through the other candidates, my uncle Markus, my uncle Adam, and my cousin Laura. The final candidate to be announced, however, was quite an unpleasant surprise.

"And last but certainly not least, we have Veronica Hutchinson, first cousin of the current Supreme Leader. She was not able to appear today, but know that she's still-"

"No!" I yelled, pausing the video. "Edit that out before you air it!"

"What should I edit out?" Ariana asked.

"The part about Veronica!"

"But she is a candidate..."

"That filthy traitor? A candidate for Supreme Leader?" I spat. "Not under my rule!"

"I'm afraid there's nothing even you can do about this, ma'am. When the current Supreme Leader doesn't have any children, it is customary to enter all their living extended family members in the Trials."

"That's true..." I mused. "But Veronica isn't living!"

"She's officially classified as missing, ma'am," Ariana sighed. "They never found any evidence of her death."

"She hasn't appeared in the Aggregate in years!! She has no business becoming a candidate!!" I slammed my fist on my desk. Ariana stepped back, startled.

"I'm sorry, ma'am. Like I said before, there's nothing that even you can do about this."Ariana shrugged and took back the silver cube.

I pressed my hand against my forehead and sighed loudly.

"Do you need anything, Commander Hutchinson?" Ariana asked. I could tell that she was eager because of how it sounded in her voice.

"Well, there may not be anything I can do about it legally but what about illegally?""

"But...you...going against the law!??" Ariana looked extremely shocked.

"Why are you so obsessed with the law? What's the point of being a Special if you don't break the law once in a while? I've probably broken the law more times than everyone in every Aggregate prison combined."

"Well...if you say so," Ariana pursed her lips, still nervous.

"If you remove Veronica from the Trials, you can take her place," I smiled slyly.

"WHAT!?" Ariana almost squealed with delight. "But, I'm not from the ruling family."

"The rules can be bent."

"Then, yes! I'll have her removed immediately!"

"Well, now that that's settled, if Veronica is still alive, we can't have her alive anymore! She won't be happy that she's not in the Trials. It is her birthright."

"What would you like me to do?" She asked, her eyes brightening with joy.

Kids, I thought. I knew exactly what she wanted.

"Would you like to go undercover again?"

"Yes Commander, I would love to." She said calmly.

"Great" I smiled. "You have to find Veronica and kill her. Most probably, she has taken refuge in Kassia. If not, you'll find her in Community Purple or the Fray Sector."

"Kassia? But most average citizens of the Aggregate don't even know that any other countries exist!"

"Hutchinsons are not average citizens of the Aggregate."

"It will be done," Ariana smiled cruelly. "You will never have to worry about your treacherous cousin again."

"Good," I nodded. "Remember that this is what it means to be a Special. Good Specials are dead Specials."

"Good Specials are dead Specials," Ariana laughed. "Finally figured out what that motto means."

Before Ariana could leave, I stopped her. "Ariana?"

She turned around. "Yes ma'am?"

"Aren't you going to change your appearance?" I started.

She slapped her forehead, clearly embarrassed.

"Your hair? That perfect blonde is so obviously Special."

"Yes ma'am...I will get to that immediately!!" She left and I sat back in my chair.

Veronica, wherever you are, I will find you, and I will get rid of you... Permanently.