They Call Me Alexandra Gastone

Chapter 1

Old Mr. Dagby grabbed the remote control and turned the volume to blaring. Dagby's hearing aids were acting up again, putting us all at risk for hearing loss.

"Reporting for Educhannel, I'm Hunter Ludlum coming to you from Olissa, where we have breaking news." Hunter's curly blond hair danced about his head as he stood in front of the Olissan parliament building, the chaos of an angry horde in the background. "The election results are in and Vladik Kasarian of the liberal party has narrowly defeated independent candidate, and prominent business man, Tarkan Aroyan. Aroyan and his followers have taken to the streets in protest, claiming election tampering by the United States. Throughout his campaign, Aroyan called for the removal of all U.S. troops on Olissan soil, including the strategically located U.S. army base in Tancred, near the Iranian border."

The camera shifted focus from Hunter to Kasarian's arrival at the parliament building. Instead of a limosine or towncar as you might expect for a politician, he arrived in a black van to accommodate his sister Alina's wheelchair. Flanked by heavy security, he rolled Alina down the van ramp and quickly hustled inside. Hunter flashed back on the screen. "Vladik Kasarian has just arrived and will make his victory speech in only moments. Please stay tuned."

Mr. Dagby switched off the T.V. "Can anyone tell me why Aroyan came so close to winning the election?"

The class sat silent for several long seconds, Dagby's question lingering in the air. Half the students averted their eyes, trying not to get called on.

"Anyone?" asked Dagby.

Hating to see him struggle, I raised my hand.

"Yes, Lex!"

"When we saved Olissa from a land grab by Russia and Iran, we were seen as a friend, but that was more than a decade ago. We've only increased our troop presence since then. We are now the occupier."

Forty-years into teaching, Dagby always had an unsettled look about him. I think he feared that his life's work had all been for nothing, that we didn't appreciate his efforts and he hadn't made a difference in our lives. This was a shame because he was by far the best teacher in the high school.

"An occupier? Would you go that far?"

"I may not, but Olissan's might. They've had ten years of independence here, and twenty there. For the last five hundred years, every generation has known what it is to be occupied by another nation. It also hasn't helped that several American companies operating in Olissa have been busted for fraudulent business practices. It makes us look bad."

"Some interesting thoughts Lex," said Dagby, turning his attention to another student. "Mr. Rogan, why do you think Vladik Kasarian made a point to have his sister Alina at his side during the campaign? She attended every public gathering and was always front and center."

Tim's face went blank. Seconds passed and I watched as beads of sweat formed on his brow.

She is confined to a wheelchair, do you think that has anything to do with it?" asked Dagby, trying to help Tim out.

Tim shook his head no.

"She's also a prominent physicist. Would that have anything to do with it?"

Tim nodded hesitantly.

Trying to hide his annoyance, Dagby started to motion for more information just as the end of school bell rang, saving Tim from further torment.

With an afterschool appointment to keep, I made a beeline for my locker and began dumping books in my backpack with one hand while checking my phone for a text from Varos with the other. We were more than a week overdue for our monthly meeting, but I still hadn't received a text with the location. Our last meeting had ended poorly and I was worried Varos might be angry and putting me off. At finding my inbox empty, I stuffed the phone in my bag with everything else and told myself to forget it. Varos still had two more days to make contact before protocol required I reach out directly to Perun.