Sorry for the lack of updates for a while people... Between exams and losing my creative mojo and not finding enough time to write over the hectic ending of Year 11 and having to start the chapter over SEVERAL times during the holidays encroaching Year 12... Here we are now and it is the beginning of a major cataclysm yet to come for the whole of the Alliance against Empire Domination... the Mobians, the Ferians and Midorians, the Overlanders... even Cathryn Calibre is not going to be safe when it's all going to throw down.
Chapter 7: Counting Hours
February 5, 2017, 3:10pm, Acorn Palace, Cealia, Mobius
The clock ticks loudly in Elias' ears, the noise being louder than Councillor Dylan's reading out the activities for the Founder's Day celebration. It is nearly time to go and pick up Alexis from school and take her to dance class. However, he has been stuck in the council meeting that was "urgently" called –possibly by a stubborn Councillor Hamlin- all because he is headed to Angel Island tomorrow for a well-needed vacation. The urgency to get this meeting over with has him checking his phone repeatedly as every passing minute means that it will be another to which he could be running late. Megan is usually on pick up duty, as she refuses royal duties in favour of just wanting to live this somewhat normal life with her children, but the reason that he has to go and get her is that she is busy with a fundraiser brunch and afternoon auction for one of the many charities she is heavily involved.
Kate looks at Elias, who is getting a little twitchy with impatience every passing minute, especially with the repeated lighting up of his phone. She knows that he has to inform the council and hand over the leadership to Kate before he can leave, as he had done with the senate earlier this morning –the only meeting they thought they would have today- and with the current deadline, it may be time to interject.
"I'm afraid I may have to interject here, councillor, as the king has more important obligations he has to get to." Kate interjects
Elias then stands, inwardly breathing a sigh of relief, "Yes, thank you, without fervour adieu, this will be my last council meeting for until after the Founder's Day long weekend, so on the 18th I will return to the head chair on the council and the senate. If you will excuse me, I have a daughter to attend to so for the remainder of the meeting, Lady Kate will be in charge. Starting from tomorrow she is the Queen Regent again so... I really have to go. Continue."
Elias then steps away from the head chair as Kate stands to take his place. He gives her a smile and she nods with response before taking seat at the head chair and asking the council to continue. Without a second to lose, Elias heads out of the chambers, out the back way to be exact and takes off in a hurried walk. He has about 10 minutes to get down there if he wants to get a good spot by the school, and he will look a little out of place if he is in his council uniform.
"Nicole." Elias says as he heads up the stairs in a fast jog, unbuttoning his jacket as quickly as he can
The holographic Lynx and steward appears beside of him, "Yes, King Elias?"
"Nicole, we have no time to lose as I have to be down at the school by at least 25 past. Have someone bring my car around and make sure that Alexis' dance gear and clothes change is still inside of it." The king orders
"Yes, sir." Nicole replies
As the Lynx quickly disappears in an array of pixels, Elias gets to the third floor and in a hurried walk he walks to his chambers. While awkwardly trying to take off his uniform jacket, he opens the door to his chamber and walks in, kicking the door closed behind him. He throws off the jacket on the bed with an errant flop as he quickly goes through the wardrobe for something to wear –as it would be a little too showy for the Wednesday afternoon school-to-dance-class-to-dinner-to-home run around the city- and chucks out a different shirt, pants and a jacket.
After a quick change, it is off again down the corridor and down the stairs, while checking that he has the essentials of wallet, phone and keys on him before it gets too late. Out through the foyer and to the courtyard outside, his personal small car pulls up as if on cue and out gets Shard, Kate Robotnik's metal sonic duplicate, personal steward and companion.
Elias heads down the stairs, "Heh, not bad, right on cue. Never knew you could drive, Shard."
"You'd be surprised as to how much Kate has taught me over the years." Shard says with a bow of his head, before walking past the king to the stairs, "I better get back to fixing the Wi-Fi problem that Kate's computer is having."
"Thanks." Elias says with a friendly wave
Without a moment to lose, the king gets into his still running car and before anything checks the back seat. Much to his relief, all of the gear that his little girl needs for this afternoon is sitting there on the back seat, everything down to the -mandatory by law- booster seat she needs. Putting the small car into drive, he takes off down to the gates, opening them with the auto-remote above him practically attached to the roof with Velcro, the most low-tech thing about his car there is.
The odd occasion he gets to do the school run now that one of the kids are going to school is a bit of a relief when in the high-stress job of being the king of most of the world. It is a time where he can go about the city like a normal person and find some peace within the chaos, despite rush hour vastly upon him and being in a bulletproof, bombproof, fireproof, submersible, all-terrain, high-tech, electric powered vehicle disguised as a typical silver coloured small car. –Complete with a personalised licence plate, Eli-Acorn, and a little flag of the kingdom as the hood ornament.
Making his way to the private school that his daughter is enrolled at, the same private boarding school that their main doctor, Dr Mary, attended as a child, it is 26 past and through preferring to be early when it comes to the 'just being sure' factor of events, it's a little late to be waiting. Getting out going across the crossing to wait for Alexis, just across is his brother in law, Sonic on pick up duty.
"Hey, Eli." Sonic says
"Sonic." Elias says with an acknowledging nod of his head, "Let me guess, Sally made you take up pick up duty?"
"Yeah, collision of schedule, Sal's at training with King Calibre and a couple other members of the resistance were called over to the United Federation's Embassy for something as they 'insisted' that Zach have them there." The blue hedgehog replies with a sweep of his hand over his quills, "Hopefully I'm not stuck watching everyone's kids again if the federation has noticed something and Sally decides to draft up a night meeting, now that sucked something bad."
"Is it because the majority of them are babies and toddlers?" The king says with a scorning look to his brother in law, "Let me guess, the Hero of Mobius and Prince of Acorn can't handle watching babies because he wants to be knee-deep in the action of talking with the Federation's slightly impatient ambassador from the Nobility State who seems a little too bored of his job. It sounds to me that someone is a little ungrateful because he can't quell his adventure-hungry conscious."
"I'm not being ungrateful; I just don't like being given the babysitting duty." Sonic retorts sharply to the king, "And another thing, why must I end up doing it when-"
The bell rings, cutting off the hedgehog from continuing his speech even fervour as the students begin pouring out of the school grounds to awaiting parents and school buses parked in the bus bay ready to go. The one thing to do when you are a parent on pickup duty is focus. Within a sea of 400 day attending students that may exit these gates to go home and fervour near 100 of the boarding students leaving to go in carpools to the various after-school activities that run within the city of Cealia, trying to spot your child if they cannot spot you can be a little challenging.
"Hi, Daddy! Hi, Uncle Eli!" One little voice, belonging to young, five year old Sonia Acorn comes from the crowd as a fast-moving blur of auburn and brown runs to her father, Sonic.
"Hey, Sonia, how is my favourite niece doing?" Elias asks
"I'm your only niece, Uncle Eli." The young squirrel chirps, bouncing around like the vibrant ball of energy, "Guess what, Uncle Eli, guess what. I'm going to Karate this afternoon."
"Oh, really?" The king says in a playful tone, playing along with the vibrant youngster, "I guess that makes you a tough little princess like your mother, yeah?"
"Yeah, I'm gunna kick lots of butt!" Sonia cheers, much to the amusement of her father and uncle who reply with soft laughter, "And learn the element of surprise... The bad people won't see it coming."
"I imagine they won't." Elias smiles, amused with the antics of his sister's rambunctious daughter, kneeling down to ruffle her hair
"Well we gotta juice, Sonny, if you want to make warm ups." Sonic says, taking the girly backpack of his daughter and swinging it over his shoulder, "Say good bye to your uncle, Sonny."
Sonia hugs her uncle, "Bye, Uncle Eli."
"See you later, kiddo." Elias replies getting up and waving as the pair head away, "Remember, with great power of the fists comes with great responsibility."
As more children come out the gates, Elias turns around as a group of girls in dance gear come out in giggles and all sweet nature girls tend to be in at their age. Among them, being the odd one out still in school uniform is his stepdaughter, Alexis, who then parts from the group of girls at the very moment she sees who is picking her up for once.
"Daddy!" Alexis cheers upon seeing her father, running over to him, "Yay, you came to pick me up!"
"Hello, my darling." Elias says, scooping up the child in an affectionate hug before placing her down beside him, "How is my little ballerina doing?"
"I'm good, daddy." The young girl replies walking along beside her father hand in hand, as they cross the road, "Did you remember my dance gear?"
"Of course I did, I made sure of it before I left." The father replies, while getting his keys out of his pocket and pressing the button to unlock the car, "That and I got you a good change of clothes for dinner. You can look yourself when you get into the car."
"Are we going out for dinner?" Alexis asks, asking her second question for the afternoon, opening the back-left passenger door all by herself and climbing into her seat and doing the seatbelt
"Yes, darling." He replies, getting into the driver's seat and starting the car
"Why?" She asks again
Elias puts the car into reverse and looks to the monitor showing the reversing camera, "Well, you know that your mother, Edward and I are going to Angel Island for ten days and since your mother had her charity thing today, I thought we could get dinner out as a family."
"Oh..." Alexis responds, while tapping on the monitor in the back of the driver's seat to scroll through the music, taking out headphones from the basket below it, "I'm looking forward to staying with Aunty Sally and Uncle Sonic. Are you looking forward to your trip, daddy? What are you gunna do on your trip? Are you gunna go cliff jumping with Uncle Knuckles?"
"Alexis... Settle down..." The father chuckles with an amused roll of his eyes, putting the car in drive and heading forward out of the car park by the school, making a left to go through the city, "I'm looking forward to the trip, of course I would, I don't think your mother will allow me to do that, darling."
"Aw, really?" The child replies, while trying to untangle her headphones, before getting frustrated and throwing them on the ground
"Hey, girlfriend, save the energy for class, alright." Elias says before going to the console and getting a pair of untangled headphones out, "Try these."
"Thank you, daddy." Alexis says, immediately taking them and putting her music on, as if she has some sort of craving for her pop music after school and needs it before dance class
Every time Alexis puts on her music in the car, it is all but amusing to see the high-energy five-year-old bob, sway and sing to the music, monitored and chosen to be child-friendly for a five year old to listen to without her picking up swearing. She sings and bobs to the hand chosen tracks of Mina Mongoose's solo album and then the child-friendly tracks of the Forget Me Knots and Elias softly laughs. –She loves Mina's music and Eli is thinking of having her perform at her next birthday party whenever he can catch her either in the city at rehearsals or an informal house-visit or over at her partial-job at his sister's resistance. However his daughter's little show must come to an end as he pulls up outside the dance studio and to get her attention, turns off the main power source of the monitor with a twist of the key.
"Aw... But I love that song!" Alexis whines with displeasure
"Come on, kiddo, dance practice is going to start soon." Elias says, getting out of the car to open her door for her, "You can listen to your music later. Your mother isn't going to be out of her event until six thirty and reservations are not for another hour then so... I'm sure you can listen to more music then, alright."
"Okay then..." The five year old smiles to the compromise, putting her dance bag over her shoulder before running over to the door, "See you later, daddy!"
The father waves, "Alright, darling, have fun."
February 4, 2017, 7:29pm, New City Airport, Soleanna, United Federation
Back dropped by a setting sun and an orange sky, a plane comes in to land and it touches down at the main airport of Soleanna's New City Airport. As the plane comes to a halt and the stairs brought to the plane, there approaches a welcoming party of importance assembled, soldiers lining the walkway placed down the press with them eagerly snapping pictures. Particularly that of the ruler of Soleanna, Queen Elise, who since becoming a sole-reigning queen on her coming of age has grown substantially and become a just and noble ruler over Soleanna over the last few years confidently.
The door to the plane comes open and the soldiers stand at attention and as the security on the plane gives the all clear, the important guests finally showing themselves as they come to the door of the plane. As per orders of an increasingly busy President of the United Federation, he has delegated this duty and sent GUN Commander Clarissa Cousteau to the city on the water on business over matters such as military and the little things of policies that the president wants implemented. With her on this trip, her ten year old son, Christopher, due to having no one available to sit for her son for a week and the father wanting nothing to do with him until his weekend at the end of every month. He seems to end up going everywhere with his mother, and this is no acceptation.
The commander steps down from the plane to the salutes of the soldiers lining the walk and coming to lesser dignitaries who are also saluting before shaking their hand. Her little shadow following her and doing the same thing in line of salutes and handshakes; despite her young boy having no role within the family business aside from his constant companionship of his mother to work and on most trips.
Clarissa takes the outstretched hand of Queen Elise and shakes it accompanied with a swift bow, "Your grace."
"It is good to see you, Commander Cousteau." Elise responds with a warm and welcoming smile, "I trust that your flight from the Nobility State was fine, despite the delays."
"It was better when we had gotten into the air after a two hour wait, your grace." The commander replies before looking over to her son, who is playfully saluting one of the soldiers, "Christopher, come here at once!"
"Yes, mother." The ten-year-old obediently replies, rushing over to his mother's side, not without stretching out his hand to the Queen of Soleanna, "My name is Christopher of House Cousteau, it's nice to meet you."
"It's nice to meet you also, little Lord Cousteau." Elise takes the young bat's hand, shaking it gently before looking to his mother, "I hope I am not getting it wrong; he is a hereditary lord, correct?"
Clarissa nods, "As much as I was born one as the eldest of the fourteenth generation as a Lady Cousteau myself. Of course, being second generation GUN commander, I'd rather have Commander as a title than the one bestowed upon me by the society which is more of a burden than national security on the national holiday."
"Well, anyway, if we may retire to the palace, I have instructed my staff to prepare the guest chamber and dinner for to be done by the time we arrive." The young queen then says, trying to deter the convocation away from that of falling silence because of the commander known for her sharpness in certain conversations
"After sitting on a plane for about six hours because of delays, I'd be glad to have something but airline food." Clarissa says, taking the hand of her ten-year-old son, "After you, your grace."
The young Queen of Soleanna goes first and the Commander follows behind while Christopher somewhat attracts attention to himself as the cameras take as many pictures as possible before a pull down of his arm by his mother stops him. An escort pulls onto the tarmac with police on scooters leading it before a limo pulls up behind them. Christopher rushes ahead despite his mother's protests and excitedly opens the door himself and climbs in. Despite being from the Nobility State and his father often sending a car like this to pick him up, he always is fascinated with riding in the fancy cars whenever he is with his mother on her business trips. As soon as the important of the dignitaries are in the car, Christopher taking a widow seat with his mother's phone to take pictures of the scenes that move all around him outside the window, the escort leave the airport and into the New City.
February 5, 2017, 12:34pm, Empire of Ferian Revolutionaries Base, Diseraya Desert, Midora Province, United Kingdoms of Fera
The giant hangar doors open as a giant airship slowly emerges from its hiding place with a roar of its many giant engines. A little more than a month ago, this jewel in the empire's crown was brutally damaged at the hand of Sally Acorn and her out of control geological powers putting a massive hole in the body of the aircraft and making as much damage as an all-out aerial assault with the Guardian Units of the Nation. Watching from a window in the distance overlooking the hangar and the corresponding airfield in the mansion, Nega looks on with a pleased look on his face. The very thing he loves like any of his children is looking as good as new, especially with its new paint job that he chose for it as the old one was too much of a reminder of the failure of the last ship. –The man dislikes failure as much than he does the Goddess and her descendants. Therefore, when the Goddess and her team of magi-kinetic-capable child-adults defeats him and messes with his airship, It won't end well this time around.
"She's running like a beaut, boss." A female voice says on the other end of a communication, "Engines are running at the right capacity, no alarms going off, weapons are coming online and offline whenever the action is done. We gunna take her for a test fight or what, boss?"
Nega places a hand on the earpiece, "No can do, Ana, lass. It is good that she is running as good as I planned, but no can do on the test flight. Don't want to risk it if those Ferian Freedom fuckers or heaven above that little geologically powered woman is about to mess up the ship and its new paint job."
"Alright, I'll run a couple more tests and run the details by." Alexis replies as from what he can see, she manoeuvres the ship slowly around the airfield, "Flight check at 0500 hours tomorrow?"
"How could I say no to the opportunities I have at my disposal when I am awaiting the good news?" The emperor retorts, slightly offended that she had to ask, as he stares closely out the window, "Alright, no funny business there, general and if there is one scratch on her, protocol will be followed."
"Yeah, yeah... I know, I know..." The general replies from her post at the command of the giant airship, "Alright, Alexis out."
The emperor takes his hand away from the earpiece and then withdraws himself from his post he has been by for about a couple hours in wait for his aftermath pet project to show herself from the same place she has resided since the defeat. Speaking of aftermath and the effects it has left behind; there is one thing that requires his attention that is all but the critical on his new plans to come into effect.
Leaving his office, walking down the hall and taking a right to go down another corridor on the second floor of his castle-sized mansion, if he wants to see his plans, his plans that have been waiting dormant for some time now, come to fruition, there is one thing that needs to be right first. In that very same failed attack that caused massive damage to his prised airship, another precious thing to this ambitious emperor was injured during this fight: his daughter. Sara was on her first mission ever as a commander of her father's empire and had her pistol aimed at the blue hedgehog's head and ready to pull the trigger when his defensive and dangerous spouse decided to pop her one in the chest with fists of stone. The general brought her back and there was a large crack on her armour, but thankfully only a fair few fractures from a somewhat cushioned blow. For the past month and a bit, she has been recuperating to the best that enormous imperial wealth can buy, and today is the day that can make or break the tomorrow.
He opens his daughter's chamber door as the examination goes on. The doctor stands by Sara's bed as he has one of the many medical instruments are in her ear in examination, despite the unappeased grimace she has across her face. As she is the future to an empire which ambitions for total domination of the United Kingdoms within the next few years, of course they have to be through. Nega comes and stands behind his wife who sits on the other side of their daughter's bed and places one of his hands on her shoulder. She turns back to him and with a comforting smile takes his hand as she shares the same thought. –Although her ambitions are nothing to do with the empire but rather the maternal concern of her daughter's wellbeing possibly still at risk, she still shares in her husband's anxieties for their child.
"Deep breaths now, my lady." The doctor says to the young woman, as a stethoscope is pressed against her chest in one last test. With every breath and every pondering "ah-ha" and "um-hum" of the doctor, Milena's grip gets tighter on Nega's hand as the decisive answer comes any moment now. The emperor runs his thumb over his uneasy empress' knuckles and kisses her hand softly, in effort, for the least in a rare act of selflessness, to do something to soothe her nerves more than for his.
The doctor then finishes his examination and looks to the parents, "Well, my lord, my lady... It appears that Sara has made quite the recovery over the last month and a bit. Her fast healing process coupled with regenerates has practically bounced her back from the impacted injuries from Christmas day."
"Is she able to be field-ready?" Nega inquires
"Field ready nothing, Jonathan!" Milena sharply interjects to her husband before turning back to the doctor, "Will my daughter be able to return to at least normal duty is what I am concerned about. I care not for how my daughter should fare if she should engage the Alliance scum, but rather if she will be able to bloody as well handle her commanding duties or what is what I am asking, doctor."
"Provided she does not engage any of the Secret Order in battle for quite some time, yes she can return to her duties as a commander, my lady." The doctor replies
"In other words, it's a yes, father." Saraphina speaks for the first time now, looking toward her father with a slight smile, "Tell Aunt Ana that she can prepare our troops and make sure that the airship will be prepared by dawn tomorrow. You have waited long enough, father... What are you waiting for now?"
The emperor nods his head to his daughter, "Absolutely nothing, my girl... Absolutely nothing at all."
February 5, 2017, 5:39am, Soleanna Royal Palace, Soleanna, United Federation
Clarissa rolls over in bed, a mess of wiry below-shoulder length lemon-blonde hair moving to obscure her face held up by her hand as she taps around in the dark, looking for her phone on the bedside table. She finds the device once she feels the cool glass surface under her hand and brings it over to check the time... a little after 5:30 in the morning and surprisingly already 18 voice messages from the office, a few social media notifications and a couple texts. In her case, a perfect time for the insomniac to go for a wander whenever sleep eludes her again if she cannot try again to fall asleep after another interruption. –And she cannot blame it on Christopher as he is ten years old, and not having nightmares worth waking her about.
She plonks her head back down on the pillow; there would be reasons why she would be awake at this time of morning if she were still at home. It is a bit of a force of habit that her father never warned her about when she became first in line for taking over GUN. He never told her that she could have times where she could lose sleep, or have to stay awake because of being in the middle of a life threatening military situation when he was telling her from the first day that she would take his place after his death. –And after a couple minutes, if it prevails then you have to work through it.
Clarissa sits up in the dark and just sits there for a bit, whether it be from a sleepless-induced trance she just finds that it helps to just do nothing for a few minutes there... She then looks over to the other side of the room to her son and rolls her eyes as he lies there with the blankets in a mess and lying there on his side with his arm over his head. –Something she just knows that he picked up from his father's side of things, and she just cannot leave him there like that. Throwing the blankets aside, she sleeplessly crosses the room and drags a chair over to the side of her son's bed. She fixes him up so he does not look like he has been going for an award in the most awkward pose in known history and fixes the blankets up... All before sitting down beside the bed, just to think since she has the unavoidable time. –Something her father told her to do whenever she has a spare moment between it all, despite still not telling her about bouts of loss of sleep such as this time.
"Oh sweet Remy, darling... You know that I do so much to make up for it all. I can only hope you don't resent me like I did my father growing up for all the decisions I make." Clarissa says, moving her son's lemon blonde hair out of his face, "That and forgive me for giving you that bastard as your father. Yes, I admit he cares and he tries, but in reality, he does not try hard enough. He'll buy you gifts, but something which will "make up" for all the times he is busy not bothering on your weekends or for the other 339 days he doesn't give a crap."
She then hears the beep of the phone across the room, the sound it makes when she is on the 'Do Not Disturb' setting every time some tries to call her before 6:20am. –Making it 19 voice messages on her phone that continue to pile up from the office trying to reach her when it's probably just the usual updates she asked for whenever she is away from the desk. Just in case, she has to end up flying back home early to deal with some sort of major international crisis, a war breaking out or something that direly needs her intervention.
"You know the deal, kiddo. My handgun on the table over there is only to be used if some bastard is trying to kill you and if the phone rings after wakeup and it's from the office, answer and if really urgent, come find me." She says speaking to the sleeping figure who could not even comprehend any of what she says, but would know it all because of thorough repetition before kissing his head, "I'm going to find somewhere I can bloody was well do morning workouts. Even on political vacay, mama has to keep up her regime because to be thirty-something and have a figure like mine takes work."
With this idea of working out in mind in the early dawn of day coming through, Clarissa pulls off her pyjamas and chucks the clothes on the bed before dragging over her suitcase. Among the formal commander's uniforms and formal regalia just in case of a formal event of some sort that needs her to wear anything else but her uniform, there is some casual clothes among the seriousness. Clarissa chucks on her workout gear of a loose, short sleeve shirt covering a sports bra and a pair of tracksuit pants. After a quick run through of the brush in her hair, she ties it back in a ponytail before putting on her shoes before heading out and finding the perfect place to exercise.
In the light of a new day and after some warm up stretches in prevention of pulling muscles, the GUN Commander runs laps around the extensive palace gardens as all but a part of the morning routine. Usually when she goes for a jog, on this busy schedule it would be 8kms from the Cousteau Manor in the Parisian Nobility State, down two streets and through the park and back. However, with these gardens it doesn't take long in laps before it makes the quota on the route she takes around the area. She then decides upon doing some yoga now that the light has come around and returns up to the balcony. While in the middle of the 'Warrior' pose, the young queen comes outside looking like she had just gotten up dressed in a kimono style nightgown with her brown-red locks in a fizzle of a mess.
"Good morning, Commander Cousteau." The young queen says as she goes to lean over the railing, "I hope that you slept well since today... My cabinet members will be coming around at 11 and lord knows that they'll be a hoot and a holler to work with."
"It'd be much better than working with the Minister of Defence back in the Capitol I'll tell you that." Clarissa replies while changing legs and with a deep inhale bends her right knee forward, "I take my orders from the President, but when it comes to Raoul, that twitchy, full of shit, fucker who'd call a war if one little staple goes missing... He'll try to tell me how to run the army that I inherited from my father and was chosen for by the President himself. Heck, even the President can't stand him and on the DL hopes that he'll be gone soon or something."
"Ah, but as they say, pickers can't be choosers." Elise replies with an amused look toward the commander, "I've never heard any commander, no less a high-born Parisian Noble trash-talk and swear so naturally as if it's nothing."
The commander then finishes her workout and rolls up the mat, "I weren't raised to be some posh lady with the high-born etiquette who attends balls in lavish dresses and is married by 24, neither was Rachael. Raised pretty much as a boy by my father since there was no hope in a male heir by the time Antoinette was born. I was combat ready by nine and swearing like a sailor by eleven and I never was hosting tea parties in the garden when at fifteen I was shooting guns, causing bloody noses on any recruit in training and tailing my father around the GUN base."
"I see why the president chose you for the job then when you were taught by the best. Sir Cousteau was a good man and a wise leader and is all but reason enough." Elise complements with a bit of a smile
"Mum..."
Clarissa turns around as her son stands at the balcony doors, with her phone pressed against his chest, "Remy? What is it baby?"
"The Ferian Empire is here..." Christopher replies with a look of fear on his face, "And they're headed our-"
Before the boy could finish his sentence, there is an explosion from far away and planes fly over the palace in a roar. The commander and the queen run inside, with a dash head upstairs and up to the Queen's Chamber and out to a balcony outside overlooking the city in a panoramic view... They are taken aback as the imperial airship flies over the city with an armada of planes already taking their first firing at a structure that is up in flames with smoke rising into the dawn's sky.
February 6, 2017, 2:48am, Mobian Resistance Base, Cealia, Mobius
Nicole hovers about the Resistance base on her nightly maintenances, checking every wall panel and computing device connected to the main server to make sure that they are in working order, not infected with tracking cookies and computer viruses and remain as secure as the computer systems in all the other military and government buildings and the palace are. Exchanging friendly hellos with the individuals on the night watch duties -tonight being Knuckles on boarders paired up with spouse, Maryann from her post in the infirmary and Cream who is on her maiden watch at the high tower- she does not seem to get too bored between checks when the night is all but young for a holographic computation.
The holographic lynx walks around the corner from checking the interface panel in the gym and training simulator and then checks the wall panel near the main entrance to the base, following a complaint made by Mina the other day that the interface was being very slow when she was going to sign off from her watch. As soon as she finds the problem as a server connection error, she feels a slight tap on where her shoulder is supposed to be if she was a whole being. Turning around, she notices her mecha beau, Shard, standing behind her with a bouquet of roses in his hand.
"Surprise my holographic honey." Shard says with a smile across his face
"Are those for me?" Nicole says with a soft red coming to her cheeks as she takes the flowers "That's so kind of you... Wait, aren't you supposed to be at Lady Robotnik's place ahead of tomorrow and also on your charger."
"Well I should, but since Kate and her fiancé were busy on their weekly of takeout, wine and deli platters coupled with three premium drama shows and then... that... I thought I would just put myself on charge and then come over to see you." He explains while looking for his identification tag on the holder in order to sign himself in because of the security they have in place.
"Here, I'll get it." Nicole says before typing a few things in on the monitor and it making a three-tone beep noise that means signed in, "It's interesting how innovative the kingdom had gotten since a king has been put back on the throne. From ruins of power to five years later when great minds bring us innovative technology that has allowed for a technological upgrade of the city we've made our capitol and allow me to live within this living realm."
"Life has brought us all much within the last five years. It has brought families together, it brought that summer of weddings and brought a new generation into a free world their parents fought for." He agrees before moving to wrap his arms around his girlfriend's waist, "And it brought me you."
"Shard..." She scowls as she continues to work on the monitor, "As much as I love the cuddles, I'm working. I may have the time at this time of night to take a breather from having to manage the capitol and all things about it, but I still have to do some work to make sure things run smoothly."
"Alright, alright..." The sentient android says as he pulls away and then reclines against the wall, "You know, I've been thinking lately... Thinking about the future."
"Oh really now?" The holographic lynx responds curiously, turning her head toward him with a raised brow, "What do you think about?"
"Well... For starters I think about Kate." Shard elaborates, while the lynx continues her work on the faulty device, "She's not that little girl I once knew anymore and now that she's engaged and working full time now in times where she is Queen Regent... I wonder where my place would be in her life when she settles down in a house in the suburbs with Zach and starts a family. Even when I still help her with managing her home and making dinner when she comes home late and buggered... It crosses my mind that I may not be as useful anymore to her since she is all grown up now... I might lose my best friend..."
"Sweetie... When Sally began to settle down when the war was over and when she got married and had Sonia I was there and I will always be there. Kate would never get rid of you, or replace you, no more than Sally could ever do that with me. Be there for her, Shard, that's all companions like us could ever do because as much as those stubborn girls don't like to admit it, they'd be lost without us." Nicole emphatically replies to her boyfriend, although a few tears come to mind when it comes to that sensitive issue among companion AI's like them, "Now what else is it that runs rampant on that hard drive of yours, eh? Tell me anything and I'll listen since Mina, despite her relationship turmoil she went through, always says that couples always have to be honest with each other."
"Well... babe, sometimes I think about us." Shard responds
She suddenly stops what she is doing and turns her head, "What about us?"
"Sometimes I wonder about what the future holds for us because we have been together for five years now. Over the last five years the freedom fighters are in long-term relationships and are getting married and starting families and as we get older in actual human aging or by the age of our circuits. I often think about you and me and what life could have in store for us." He replies, getting a little nervous for every word as he takes her hands, "Because you mean the world to me, Nicole and even if we're not flesh and blood the question remains the same."
"Oh merciful goddesses Cathryn and Aurora..." Nicole gasps with amazement, raising her right hand to her face, "You mean..."
Shard kneels down on one knee and holds Nicole's left hand as tears of joy begin to form in her eyes, "Lady Nicole of Knothole, my darling lynx... Will you be my wife?"
"Yes, Shard!" Nicole says as she clings to the android with projected tears of joy flowing from her eyes, "I swear it by both deities that it is a yes."
Within moments, Shard then retrieves a small box and inside, instead of the convention of the flesh and blood Mobians of there being a ring inside, there is an SD card. Walking hand in hand, they go to the closest computer –it being in the control room- and within minutes, a beautiful diamond engagement ring appears on Nicole's holographic hand.
"It's beautiful, Shard..." Nicole smiles as she admires the ring, "Really clever too."
"Well I though since it may be a bit of a hassle having one of those normal rings on you when you're constantly back and forth within the city, I got Ms Sophia to design and program this alternative." Shard says with a bit of a self-satisfied smirk for how clever he was in this ring idea, "Beautiful and practical."
"I can't wait to tell everyone in morning announcements in a couple hours." She cheers with happiness before looking back to the monitor to see an urgent voice message appear with a sharp alert tone to follow, "Hold on... It's from Clarissa Cousteau?"
"What could she want at this time of night?" He asks with as much curiosity as his fiancée
Nicole then opens the attachment, the recording begins to play and happy faces then turn to that of shock as the commander speaks amongst background noise of echoing gunfire and explosions. When it ends, alarm stations are called: Shard goes and activates the urgent alarm that begins to echo around the base within moments with a message to come to the control room accompanied by blaring alarm. Nicole herself dashes upstairs and makes her way down the hall as people begin to emerge groggily from their rooms in the atypical state of sleeplessness and confusion. She then approaches Sally and Sonic's room and opens the door as the leading couple sit up in bed half-awake.
"Nicole?" Sonic speaks as he sits up
"What's going on?" Sally enquires as she throws the covers aside, "Nicole, what happened?"
"Soleanna is under attack by the Ferian Empire, Sally..." Nicole reports with no holding back, "And it's not just some petty bombing and going, hell no, they're invading the city!"
To be continued... (Next Chapter)
