Greetings! Sorry for the late update, but it's summer!
My apologies if the style seems kind of different from before, it's been a while.
I've got nothing more to say really. We meet some new (or rather old) characters in this chapter! Enjoy!
Fear was not the first emotion for most of them. Unlike the former President, civilians were more than overjoyed to have an intergalactic hero run their country. Much to their disappointment however, this change in power did lead to a long overdue national realization that they were no longer an important world power. That, from the time between the War on Terrorism, and the Bugger Wars, the United States had experienced a dramatic drop in authority. Even more so in the years where other battle school students had spent building up their own home country.
China, having always been the economic giant of the world, had moved from developing to developed. Much more could be said for the Muslim Empire under Caliph Alai. Armenia, although it did not have as much territory to boast as its peers, had never seen better days after the Turkish genocide.
Simply put, Ender could not succeed with only the US. He needed to see Peter. And knowing that Ender had the States under his control, Peter would no doubt seek an audience with his younger brother as well.
"Are you really planning to help him?" Mazer asked in disbelief. The two were standing outside an average looking office building somewhere in the middle of Brazil.
"This is an odd place to put the Hegemony," Ender commented, ignoring Mazer's question.
"It's here for personal reasons," Mazer informed the young soldier, "But again, are you sure about this?"
Ender nodded, "Peter may have his faults," Mazer smirked at this. "But what he's doing is better than anything I could ever do."
"Y-you saved the world!" Mazer exclaimed, but even as he said it, the doubt edged into his voice. Ender shook his head.
"Well, I'm honored, Andrew," A deep, yet vaguely familiar voice said behind them. Ender matched the smile on Peters face, calculating and deceptively polite. They shook hands slowly. "I hope you weren't expecting an emotional embrace, little brother."
"Then I would have been very disappointed, wouldn't I?" Ender said, then turned to the older man next to him. "Peter, this is Mazer Rackham, I'm sure you've heard of him."
"The greatest, excuse me, second greatest hero of the Bugger Wars. It's an honor."
Mazer gave him a disapproving look that Peter dismissed. He ushered them inside the building and up two flights of stairs to a smaller, yet much more inviting office than the President's.
"Welcome home, Ender," Peter continued their broken conversation. "But I know you want to get straight to the point." At his silence, Peter went on, "We're both perfectly aware of the situation you're in, and know that your best interest would be to join the Free People of Earth."
"No need to convince me, big brother," Ender interrupted in an almost mocking tone, "I want to help."
"That's great," Peter's smirk grew impossibly larger. "I'm sure you'll be glad to see some old friends."
The office door clicked and three figures walked in. The first raised a handgun aimed at Ender. Of the two behind him, one was almost in danger of bumping his head when walking through the doorway and the other seemed the only person in the room capable of expressing emotions.
Suriyawong moved his aim to Mazer, then lowered his gun, sticking it back into his belt. "My apologies," he said, bowing slightly. As soon as he stepped away, allowing room for the other two to enter, Petra immediately ran to Ender and gave him a hug, tears threatening her eyes. It took a few seconds of initial shock for Ender to return the embrace.
Bean stood leaning against the wall. "You've grown," Ender commented when Petra let go of him, smiling sincerely for the first time in ages.
Bean grinned, "You haven't."
yay! But something should really start happening soon...