The Cyborg's Warning by Benoit Lanteigne

Author:Benoit Lanteigne [Lanteigne, Benoit]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Benoit Lanteigne
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Mutiny

Chapter 9

As promised, Rose explained about the Council during lunch. She wasn’t thrilled about it, though, to the point where she barely ate. Sure, she bought food, but she mostly played with it in an anxious manner. No question she’d rather avoid this conversation, and I wondered why. Did the memories bring her pain like those of her marriage, or was there a more sinister reason? I couldn’t help but remember how Doctor Death had warned me that she had dark secrets. Had he told me the truth? Was her role in the Council one of them? I chased those thoughts away, ashamed of considering this. Is the human mind so feeble and untrusting that it takes so little to doubt a friend?

—Thoughts of James Hunter, Hocmar 28, 2134, on the Nirnivian calendar

“About the Council…” As she uttered those words, Rose ran her fork through her mishusq puree, leaving an orange trail through her meal. “Jonathan didn’t lie. I’m a member. It’s surprising you didn’t hear before.”

“Um, wait… you’re going too fast.” James scratched his ear. “What’s the Council supposed to be?”

“It’s the Council of Hurdan, dude,” the nonchalant bodyguard said, hands linked behind his head. Though his demeanor suggested a self-evident statement, James’s confusion increased. “Those guys are in freaking charge o’ the country, ya know.”

Rose nodded. “That’s the short explanation. Nirnivia is divided into twelve regions. Every five years, they each elect a representative who’ll join the Council, Nirnivia’s highest political body. The councillors vote on laws and make important decisions that shape our future. Sorry, Hunter, I should have told you. I didn’t mean to hide it. The thing is, you panicked when you learned about me being the Melkar. I figured maybe I should wait before revealing my involvement as I didn’t want you to be uncomfortable again. Then, over time, I grew scared you might be angry that I hid this detail from you, so I didn’t dare mention it.”

“Um, that’s fine. Don’t worry.”

After what had happened earlier, I understood why she’d be hesitant to reveal she was a politician too. Yet I wondered if there was more to it. Besides, something about a prophet who’s also part of the government didn’t feel appropriate, and wouldn’t the two conflict with each other? Back home, mixing religion and politics tended to cause trouble.

—Thoughts of James Hunter, Hocmar 28, 2134, on the Nirnivian calendar

“The truth is”—her voice trembled—“Jonathan was right. I shouldn’t be on the Council. What he forgot to mention is that I never intended to participate in the election.”

***

It all began back when Rose turned twenty-one. During a routine evening, she watched TV in her house. Perhaps displaying a touch of harmless narcissism, the program she chose starred herself. On the screen, she performed an interview concerning the current election. Since people preferred their councillors to be experienced, the youngest member ever was thirty-six, and that proved an anomaly. Still, experts predicted the record might soon be shattered given Rose had reached the age where she could pose her candidacy.

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