4: The Countdown Begins

Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Roy Fair

(Dark Falcon)

Columbian Complex (C.C.)

8/11/47

The crowd erupts. Dignitaries and guards alike jump from their seats, chairs toppling to the marble floor with scattered bangs. The hushed conversation grows into a tumultuous roar, overwhelming the hall with noise. Some individuals try to leave, their security details shoving their way through the crowd. Others seem to panic, grabbing at their hair and shouting unidentifiable phrases. Some remain seated, faces serene as they had been moments before, talking calmly into their assorted communication devices, making preparations for the coming war. They are the vast minority.

“Everything is under control,” Cleopatra says, raising her voice without the appearance of shouting. “If you would all please calm down and take your seats, this is the perfect arrangement to discuss the ally protocol for the coming conflict.” Her melodious voice is unheard in the clamor. Roy turns to Nefertiti, who face has frozen into pale bone. Chester leans in and says something to her. She waves her hand at him off handedly, stepping up beside her mother. The soldier pulls away from her brown hair, frown on his face. Roy steps forward, gingerly taking his weight off the cane they provided him with. The morphine was wearing off, but that didn’t matter in the face of the mob before them.

Nudging Nefertiti in the shoulder, he hands the startled woman his cane. Understanding glitters in her eyes and she nods to him, turning forward again. He takes a shaking step back, a strong hand gripping his elbow and steading his gait. Kain smiles briefly at him,

“Don’t want to fall on your face on your big day, marble man,” the blue eyed boy says with a smirk. Their brief exchange is interrupted as Nefertiti slams the cane against the dais, the bong resonating through the chamber. It takes all Roy’s self-control not to jump. His earlier musings that they were lined up on the platform like Gladiators before a firing squad hadn’t been the best idea.

“Order!” She shouts. She repeats the process, and the gunshotesque sound shocks the panic stricken dignitaries into quiet.

“Finally,” she says, barely masked contempt leaking into her tone. “You are all behaving foolishly. War has just been declared, yes, but that does not give you the excuse to leap from you chairs and start a stampede. War is not a time for fear, it is a time for unity, a time for strength. All here realized this conflict was inevitable, and though the timing leaves much to be desired, it changes nothing. UPAE will stand against the Antarcticans, and then we will push against them, and then we will crush them under our boot.” Her head rotates across the crowd, and Roy cannot help but notice that her hair does not move at all. So the makeup demons had gotten to her too. “We hope to see all of you as allies in the coming fight. However, if you and your peoples do not seek to fight against the evil that is Antarctica, UPAE will aim to understand.” She pauses. “I come to you as a friend, as a beacon to freedom and liberty and progress, and hope that you make the right decision.” She smiles and nods to her audience. “Thank you all for attending my incumbency ceremony. It was a pleasure to see you all. Leader Cleopatra will continue the discussion of alliance.” Then she sweeps away, across the stage and through the door her mother had come through what felt like hours earlier, but was really only a few minutes.

“Um,” Sliver mumbles, leaning in as the four new consorts unconsciously clump together. “What are we supposed to do now?”

“I take it that was our cue to exit,” Kain says, still gripping Roy’s elbow. Chester lifts his head and peers out at the crowd. His face pales a little and he hunches unconsciously back into the huddle.