Shine a Light into the Future: Councillor in Training, Councillor of Humanity

Human Councillor Office, Citadel, Serpent Nebula - June 27th, 2185

The Citadel was magnificent, but extremely crowded place to be. All around her cars and people zipped past the councillor's window as station security monitored the millions of people who made the artificial creation their home. In the wealthiest part of the Citadel lay the Presidium which was the centre of galactic politics with only the truly elite being able to afford anything larger than an apartment.

The Councillor of humanity working at her desk was one of these people. Then again that was the government provided penthouse for someone of her stature. At the moment though she was talking with a Captain of C-Sec or at least a hologram of him.

"Councillor Anderson," greeted Captain Bailey's hologram, "I've sent you the new candidate reports for Citadel Security. Please send me a list of what you have screened and forward me any people you don't wish to go through the initiation training."

"I will send you that tonight Captain Bailey," replied Courtney Anderson. Age had been kind to the 194 year old woman but wrinkles still covered her face and her hair had slowly turned white with age, "Has the Prime Minister finally left the station?"

"Yes," nodded Bailey, "One less thing to worry about."

"You and me both. Dignitaries and VIPs all day," chuckled Courtney her Councillor robes wrinkling up a bit. She'd have to get them ironed and decoloured again today.

One of the various tedious chores for the most powerful person in human history. But some species on the station saw light in different ways and her robes had to be in pristine shape when meeting them.

"Was she bleating about how humanity should now push for better deals and some other political bullshit ma'am?" questioned Bailey over the line as he typed out another report.

It was no secret that Courtney despised the Prime Minister. The two were on opposite spectrums of the political sphere and had come from radically different walks of life. Personality clashes occurred but even they both had the courtesy of keeping everything professional.

If barely.

"Yes she did Captain. Yes he did Captain," agreed Courtney, "Honestly I knew that when my husband made me Councillor that I'd be dealing with bull-headed political idiots, trillionaire company emissaries and frantic scientists but you'd think at least the other human leaders would treat me with more respect. But no! It's like herding a bunch of cats and listening to the bleating of sheep all day."

That and because Courtney really had to keep the long-term in perspective. Not decades but centuries and millennia. She knew that troubled times were ahead and she was doing everything she could to prepare humanity for them. While entailed dozens of plans being written up there was only so much she could subtly do as one of four "equals".

"For what it's worth I think you're the better politicians," admitted Bailey, "And one of the best candidates for the job."

Which wasn't saying much seeing how very few of the people who might have been considered had the appropriate stature or idea. Oh Courtney knew the political dance and song that had to be played. She'd done so for over a hundred and fifty years. It was easy to collectively forget about the lessons of the past but Courtney made sure she never did.

The memories of burning planets and her family having to flee their homes would forever etch themselves into her brain and that for her first few wave of children.

"Thank you Captain I send you the candidate report and everything else later today." Thanked Courtney before hanging up on Bailey.

"So I guess you're a potato then?" snarked Courtney's husband from across her desk watching her flick through the reports.

"A potato? Really Cody?" she queried, "Why a potato?"

Cody had that grin on his face like he always did when he was about to say something she didn't know. Something weird but small. It was nice to hear and she did like it but she knew why he tried to do it.

He had been like that since Harold died. At first he had done it to honour his memory but now it was nearly second nature to him.

That was one of the down points of his life. Cody and Courtney knew that they would almost certainly outlive their friends and other family members. That didn't make it any less tragic or heartbreaking. One day she had woken up and realized that almost everyone she had once known as a teenager was gone and the few people who did where related or jointly married with her.

Honestly if it wasn't for the constants that made up the other seven members of her family Courtney knew she would have been a wreck. But it was those constants that made her life worth living.

"Well a potato is a weed and Bailey has a hologram quote on his desk saying 'Politicians are the weeds of the galaxy'?" explained Cody with a smirk

Oh how she wanted to smile at his antics. She wanted to laugh but now wasn't the time. He knew that she knew so the nod she gave was more than enough.

Courtney snipped, "And this weed will make sure you don't get arrested for back talking me."

Not that she wouldn't mind seeing Cody in handcuffs and at her feet.

"Abusing your power already," joked Cody watching his wife bristle, "And here I thought you'd wait a few weeks before finding ways to confine me a cell Ms. Councillor in Training."

"Don't call me that," huffed Courtney crossing her arms, "At least not while I'm working."

"But you know the nickname you had on Island makes hilarious sense now," reminded Cody as his hand combed through his white hair.

"I'm trying to work here Cody," she returned looking through her reports, "Just because you made a Faster than Light drive and gave me this position doesn't mean that I have to put up with your bad jokes every day."

Cody frowned at her statement his wrinkles giving off that grandfatherly look of disappointment. Well he was a great, great, great, great, great, great grandfather so it did work on their spawn of descendents.

Not on her. Nope. Never on her.

"Courtney," he nudged.

Courtney stared at him before looking downcast, "I'm sorry. It's good to have you here."

They both knew that the previous statement was a lie. Cody would never had submitted her as one of the recommended possible Human Councillors if he wasn't sure she could handle it and Courtney knew that she liked it when Cody came to her office while she was working. At the very least Ms. Anderson knew that Mr. Anderson had the decency to always call an hour ahead of time to ensure that she wasn't doing something critically important. It was one of the sweet things he did for her other than coming to see her every day. Otherwise she'd never see him or the rest of the family.

As Councillor of Humanity Courtney was basically the most powerful human in the galaxy. Sure the highest elected humans were, well, elected and did govern the internal and external affairs of humanity but they were just that. Elected and term limited to serve and protect human interests for as long as they could legally be allowed to do. They generally had to deal with other alien governments on a somewhat equivalent basis and with limited weight or pull. Not to mention all sorts of limitations that would be expected of such officials.

Courtney didn't have to deal with any of this. She wasn't term limited and thus wouldn't actually have to deal with the constant fear of re-election. The only way she'd actually be stepping down from this role would be if she died, retired or did something so heinous that sending her to jail would be better option to having half the galaxy declare war on humanity.

The former wasn't going to be likely as long as Bridgette was alive. The woman would turned into a Jellyfish would make sure that Courtney stayed in great health and thus would remain near-immortal. Assassination would be the greatest worry she'd face, not natural death. Retirement would seem unlikely as long as the Anderson Patriarch and most of her friends were alive. And the latter was a near impossibility.

"You're not stubborn enough to actually jeopardize our future Courtney," Cody reassured.

Courtney looked up from the screen, "Sometimes I have to be reminded that this is what happens when you stay married to someone for over 170 years."

They were nearly mind-readers to each other and everyone else close to them. Just as much she knew the look on Cody's face when he saw her narrowing her eyes and bending slightly forward. She'd never have done that in front of a stranger.

"But honestly I'm kind of over-whelmed," she admitted, "Holding the fate and lives of over 300,000,000,000 human beings are not an easy task. As the first Councillor there's a bar I have to set."

"A lot to live up to," nodded Cody being completely serious now, "But for what it's worth I think you're doing a great job."

She heard that every day but hearing it from him gave a warm feeling across her face. Dam it she was blushing again.

"Thank you. I get that from everyone but coming from that means quite a bit. Then when I screw up it's my head on the line," she huffed typing something.

"I'm not going to tell you how to govern or do your job. That's up to you," gently reassured Cody as he clasped her hand in reassurance, "If you need me for anything I'm basically an elevator ride away."

But if I do think you're doing something wrong I'd tell you were the unspoken words between the two. Courtney loved Cody all the same for never undermining her in public. In their domestic life he rarely did that either way.

Understanding and key communication had all but ensured their marriage survived for as long as it had. That and deck dates and the "are you happy?" talks and ... In fact there was a lot Cody did to make sure she was always content. Then again with so many participants in their marriage it'd be impossible otherwise.

"I'm surprised you didn't go through the selection process when your name came up," Courtney commented.

There were less than twenty people who could have been considered candidates for the very position Courtney had right now. One of which was sitting right in front of her.

"Please. This is your dream Ms. CIT," Cody teased yet reassuring her at the same time, "Not mine and you know it. It wouldn't be fair to you."

Or to me.

Cody got up from his chair and kissed her on the cheek before leaving. Courtney sighed internally knowing she'd miss his presence and tad disappointed. Cody never stayed longer than twenty minutes which was both a good and bad thing. She'd never be as efficient with him here.

Or the desk would have been replaced on a near daily basis instead of a fortnightly basis for all their "activities".

"I've got to pick up the kids from school soon and I think your time is better spent elsewhere than on your wayward husband," waved Cody turning to the door.

"You could just send someone else," shook Courtney knowing what Cody would say but offering it nonetheless.

It was one of the little things of their marriage. Offering even though knowing it would be declined.

"I'm their father. It's important that I be a part of all their lives or as much as I can. Soon they'd be having their own families. I better treasure all the time I can."

"How do you keep track of all of our kids anyways?" smirked Courtney as she continued typing, "I need a software program to remember all 228 of their birthdays, anniversaries and other rose garden stuff."

"I thought we had thirty?" smiled Cody from the doorway, "Or does Ms. Courtney "I turn into a Giant Centipede" Anderson have another on the way."

"We have 228 Cody, "deadpanned Courtney pride evident in her voice ignoring the last statement, "228."

Oh god just hearing her say that made her want to laugh at the absurdity. Yes medical technology had allowed for women to have at least three generations of children if they wanted to but hearing it was still hilarious in its odd way.

"Okay dear. I'll see you tonight for our date," reminded Cody before walking out. She knew that her husband loved hearing her say that. That and how proud she was of all the kids, grandchildren and ...

I need to actually do a registry of how many people are related to me.

"I'll be there," smiled Courtney as her husband left.

Then she looked down at her reports again and groaned. She was dealing with a single report or request every minute. She wanted to punch all the stupid people for sending her stupid reports and yell at the ones that hadn't been sent earlier.

But she was Councillor and she wasn't going to let that put her down. She could deal with it. She'd always.