Parliamentarian Pierce was highly respected for the sobriety in which he led his political life. He was a training lawyer, married to the science teacher Susan Pierce, and they had two lovely daughters. The society was amazed when it witnessed the fight of the Pierces in guaranteeing their oldest daughter's right to study in a normal school. Brittany Susan Pierce has dyslexia but managed to get around her difficulties at school with the help of her parents and colleagues. As a prize, Brittany will be able to graduate from school at the age of 19 and she can choose to attend both Fashion and arts program for Modern Dance. It was a win for the family. Brittany's story is just one of the things that makes the life of Mr. Pierce so admired, even though he is a man of so-called internal opposition, once the country lived under a totalitarian regime.
Parliamentarian Pierce was a respected opponent at the national parliament under the strong wrist of the premier Tom Brooks. The biggest political clash was for Russell Fabray, but his extremist's attitudes were held by his own colleagues in the name of diplomacy and a pseudodemocracy, since the popular vote was allowed to form municipal parliaments. Everyone knew that Pierce and the reformist representatives were a minority, with almost all of this minority is talking to Buttons.
Of course this was a desirable situation in the inner circles of the secret society. While the shallower buttons did the necessary manual work, while the other independent groups made the interesting and necessary confrontation (and saved many of the buttons from dirtying their hands), the so-called high circle of Buttons mapped out strategies for system changes within itself system. This was the role of people like Pierce: it was guys like him who could politically dismantle power-hungry extremists, such as Russell Fabray.
By his role of moderator, Pierce was one of the most important buttons. He is one of the members of the circle of the eight, as it is called the most powerful Buttons: there are eight leaders who make all the major decisions of the organization. Pierce is one of the two politicians who make up the highest circle. It was this national circle that decided all the movements of the buttons in the hard work in trying to break the dictatorial power of the premier and to re-establish the full democratic process and the rights of the citizen. It wasn't an easy task. There were limitations because of the strong influence of the Southern Alliance, which practically supported the dictatorial government economically. The people were forbidden to speak out, and popular leaders struggled to articulate themselves because of the innumerable restrictions on communication channels. And the premier Brooks still made a point of leaving the military very satisfied.
The Buttons' solution was to think of a strategy articulated in the medium-long term while they worked to the mute to keep the machine operating and taking care of theirs. This included the well-being of the shallow buttons.
What Rachel knew about the upper circles came from Santana's files. Here was the information that Pierce was the main button in the region, but not even Santana was able to make an accurate mosaic of the entire operational structure that served them. Santana knew something about the highest circle, two or three members, the functions performed in each group. She estimated that there were between 200 and 250 buttons in their region, which Rachel thought was a very small number, but which, on the other hand, made sense of what she herself knew. Deep down, that particular piece of information was just a bore to her. What interested her was being able to talk alone with Pierce. She knew he was a person who can get her out of the country and that he was a better shot than trying to find Lester Goldberg.
"Why so many bills?" Quinn asked curiously. She was using the calculator while Rachel is concentrated writing her own notes on the Santana's HD.
"That's the adult life!" Rachel answered in monotone.
"We're going to pay for this month's condo fee, but there's little left for our essential expenses, like food. My savings are in the limit. Do you think Gilmore can get your money until next month?"
"Maybe. Still, I will need to make a projection for the next few months of my savings money. I want to fiddle with my parents' heritage only in the last case."
"You managed to make good savings, right? I mean, ever since we started living together, I don't see you talking about get a job. And I remember that you were always looking for one to the point of accepting to work at the parties offered by my mother."
"I'm full of things to do... I started getting some kind of allowance to work in the second circle. Well... it's basically a help for gasoline and for food, but there's always some left over. It doesn't replace a job, but it's helps as I rearrange my schedule."
"Is that how Santana saved all that money?"
"Still thinking about that money?"
"We start thinking about money when it's rare." Quinn raised an eyebrow.
"Welcome to the world of the less privileged, Quinn!" Rachel set the computer aside for a minute and sat down next to her friend. "Suddenly I'm feeling like I'm 30 years old."
"You love drama, Rach." Quinn took her friend's hand. "Speaking of youth, you're going to Britt's party, right?"
"Yes I will. I thought we'd go together, unless you had other plans."
"The only plan I have is to stay with Kurt at the party and then come home. But we can go together."
"Is it my impression or are you enjoying this story of being a beard?"
"You know what? I have this guy next to me who smells incredibly well, has soft lips, is fun, treats me very well, and best of all: I don't need to go to bed with him or even make excuses ragged to avoid having sex! It's like heaven!"
"Beware Fabray, you can fall in love with the one you shouldn't!"
"Kurt?" Quinn scoffed. "Please, Berry!" She turned to the television as if trying to disguise the redness of her face. "If I need to choose to live an impossible love, it wouldn't be with him."
"Who would it be?" Rachel teased. "With that girl you told about?"
"I don't know. It's not that my list of possibilities is full today. With whom would you live an impossible love? Santana?"
"Oh please!" Rachel shook her head. "It would feel like incest. I mean, I really love Santana, but not like that."
"And what about Brittany? Since you kissed her and had a crush on her?" There was a bit of jealousy in Quinn voice, but Rachel didn't notice it like that.
"Neither she, nor any of the boys in our circle, nor the rest of the Glee Club."
"Not even with me?"
"It depends. Would our love be impossible?" It was Rachel's turn to tease.
"Would be?"
"I asked first!" Rachel was petulant in her tone.
"Well, my experience with women was better than my experiences with men. And as for you... as far as I know... you have an open mind. We live together, we get along, and you're very charming, Rachel Berry. For my part, it wouldn't be impossible... but a possibility. "
"Are you flirting with me, Quinn Fabray?" Rachel said playfully and smiled. Inside, she felt very envious.
"Maybe…" Quinn smiled.
"And do you think it's a good idea to looking for a real relationship right now?"
"I'm saying that life has taught me that the human being can be very cruel, especially when it needs to maintain power. This made me an unbelieving and sometimes angry person. But there's still a part of me that says people can be good and that we can enjoy each other. It's just that part that keeps me from locking the doors in here." She pointed to his own heart.
"I know being forced to do the things your father asked for must have been awful, but otherwise, were your other experiences so bad?" Rachel was curious about this part of Quinn's life. After all, it was no secret that she slept with Puck, but Rachel was intrigued by how she managed to date Finn for so long without having sex with him. Rachel just didn't understand.
"Please!" Quinn rolled her eyes. "You talk about this strangeness because you're still a virgin, Berry."
"I know my body, Quinn."
"Okay, so you jerk off! Congratulations to you, Berry. But know that being touched by another person is very different. It's not always good."
"That is why I'm asking. For not knowing this part."
"The truth, Rachel, is that I'm not a good reference to talk about relationships, because I didn't have any real one. Any of my experiences involved love. If you really want to know about it, ask, I don't know, Brittany or Kurt. The only advice I can truly give you is that it's worth waiting for the right person. Or at least the one that's right at that moment."
"I think it's fair. Thanks."
"Just don't try too hard, okay? Wait, things will happen in its own time."
The subject seemed to have died. Quinn rose from the sofa. She went to the kitchen and washed what was dirty. She felt that Rachel's eyes were still on her.
"What is it, Berry?"
"You said we are a possibility! This is so insane!"
"You never forget! That's annoying!"
Quinn shook her head and smiled, as if she didn't even believe it.
"We need to get ready for Britt's party." Quinn said. "I hope there's decent food there."
...
Brittany's 19-year-old party was an event like any other for teenagers: it started in the middle of the afternoon so it would end at 9 p.m because of curfews in the city. There was a DJ cheering, a dance floor in the blackened party room with black tarps so that the black and colored lights could replicate the nightclub mood. All of the school's popular boys and girls and illustrious sons of society were there. Even the buttons and the Glee Club. Whoever didn't want to stay on the dance floor, took advantage of the nice food and drinks.
Quinn was soon in the dance with Kurt and the others. Rachel smiled to see her friends in a moment of pure relaxation and allowed herself to contemplate the picture perfect before joining the dance floor with them. As the party progressed, Brittany abused alcohol more and more. Rachel ordered Blaine to keep an eye on her. She would be impressed with herself after she stopped to think of the words she used. At that time, she acted as the natural leader and she tried to prevent possible damage. Mike and Tina began to fend off one corner of the makeshift nightclub. Matt tried to approach. He who was the closest to Mike at the time they studied together at middle school. Puck thought that was his business. Matt opted for diplomacy. At least Mercedes and Quinn were there to help her friend. Fortunately, the crisis was soon resolved.
Finn, after drinking more than necessary, pushed Kurt because he was dancing behind Quinn in a funny way, as if he was having sex from behind and faking some slaps to the girlfriend's butt.
"This is a family party here. How about keeping things PG?"
Kurt wasn't a person who used to react to aggressions, and was shocked by his "brother" seemed that he wanted to tear out Kurt's liver. Finn continued to test Kurt and push him away even though Quinn screamed it was none of his ex-boyfriend's business - even felt like rolling his eyes. Quinn wondered how Finn would react if he knew she had other men on his back? If Finn was violent with Kurt because he got the "ex", that told him a lot about what he was capable of doing. But Kurt was a button: which meant that, for all his pacifist posture, he wasn't afraid to fight.
After receiving another push from Finn, Kurt countered the blow in the same proportion. That was when Finn unjustifiably punched him. Kurt, lighter and more agile, recovered quickly and kicked his brother in a low blow. He took advantage of the fact that Finn bowed in pain to punch him in the jaw, which knocked the big man down. Some brown shirts that were there reacted in Finn's favour. The buttons got into the fight to help Kurt, especially Sam, Blaine and Matt. The DJ stopped playing, the white lights were on and Mr. Pierce was called.
"If you keep fighting, stay away from my house!" Pierce shouted, accompanied by two personal security guards.
The mood subsided, and in the meantime Rachel was already pulling all the buttons close, an action not missed by Pierce. She led all, but Brittany, in the chill of the garden of the mansion.
"Finn started it!" Kurt was soon defending himself.
"No one's blaming you," Rachel said softly. "I just brought you all here so the moods will cool off."
"And it had to be so literal?" Seban complained, hugging his own body feeling the nuisance of the heat shock.
"It's just personal time!" Matt winked at the 'first'. "Those fools were willing to fight from the start."
"The point is that Mr. Pierce can't make headlines because of a teen fight at his house. It would be a full plate for the fascists cretins if brown shirts were mistreated or something like that in his house." Everyone looked at Seban. "What? It is classic strategy of political war: cause bad publicity. I bet they were instructed..."
"It could be true if Finn wasn't an idiot. He acted like he's some heroic guy, but deep down he's just a manchild." Quinn scoffed.
The security guards stayed and the DJ's music resumed, but it looked as though the party would be closed sooner than planned. The buttons came back into the dance floor, except for Rachel, who took the opportunity to go after the parliamentarian when she saw him walking toward the main house: she knew that this was an opportunity she couldn't pass up. Besides, Matt would handle the rest of the group.
"Mr. Pierce!" She shouted and the MP stopped to answer the girl.
"What was Rachel?"
"Could I have five minutes with you?"
"Look, Rachel, you better go back to the party and help our own. It's your obligation now."
"It's Matt's obligation," she corrected nervously. "And they'll be fine... they know what to do. I only ask five minutes!" She looked pleadingly.
"Ok... Let's go to my office."
Rachel had walked into the Pierce mansion countless times, but she had never been near the office. It was always the front door, downstairs to the luxurious basement, and at most she would visit the kitchen to make snacks. As much as she went to that house, talking to Pierce was a feat, so she was nervous as she followed him to the door of dark solid wood. Entering the office, Rachel saw that the atmosphere was much more sober than she had imagined: crowded bookcases, two pictures on the wall, family photos on the table, some albums and a stereo on another piece of furniture in the corner of the room. And the classic minibar. She imagined that a man like him had a safe somewhere, or kept a computer without connections, as Santana had. The parliamentarian invited her to sit down in front of the work table. It was as if Pierce was dealing with business with anyone else.
"What do you want, Rachel?" He waved his hands, looking exhausted.
"I want to get out!" The sudden, honest response brought laughter to the floor, making Rachel uneasy. "Seriously..." She pondered the tone. "I need a license to leave the country and you could easily give a concession on my passport!"
"East?" He said incredulously.
"Where else?"
"Rachel, not even I can travel to the East without a diplomatic concession. Our borders are closed to that side as you know too well. If you asked me to go to Texas, it would be much simpler to get the exit and entry visas. The East, at the moment, is a complicated affair."
"But Santana left!"
"Listen well. Santana is part of a key project for our plans. You are part of another plan. Hers involves training abroad. Yours is to help in the fight here."
"It's not fair, Mr. Pierce! The buttons preach both the struggle for freedom and rights ... but in practice it's not what we experience within the organization."
" I would like to know at what point in life are you really free to do what you please? I don't think there is a single person in the world who is not tied to someone or to some responsibility. This is a point. The other point is that the buttons are freer than any person in this nation. You are free because you are aware, you are free to know. Fighting for that was a choice, Rachel. A choice! Not a levy. Once you chose us, you know that sacrifices need to be made so that a greater good can be achieved. We can't give up our structures if we are to win this war. I know it's not easy for you and your friends, but it's not easy for me either."
Pierce's firm stare made Rachel retreat. It was no wonder that the man was a leader: he could intimidate anyone only with his eyes. Rachel gave herself a few seconds, took a deep breath, and resisted the urge to run away.
"Sir, I may have expressed myself badly," Rachel said, still trembling, but more aware that she needed caution to speak to a powerful man like Pierce. "I would like an opportunity to leave because, with all due respect, I could make better use of it if I could be a political refugee in the East. I could develop my true vocation for the arts and become a voice in favour of democratization and reopening of our country."
"With all due respect, Rachel, but being the young spokesperson for democratization is a role that is going to be for someone else. From your circle, inclusive. I know you want to be an artist, I respect your desires and admire your perseverance. I would be happy to put you in the School of Arts in the capital where you can develop your talent. But getting you out of the country is something I can't do without a very good reason, and without you really deserving."
"Sir..." Rachel tried to argue.
"I'm amazed that you're not happy with all the benefits that are being given to you." Pierce cut her off. "The contact with your mother, your leaving the orphanage, the fact that you have been well cared for so far, the direct and indirect benefits you received as one of us... for all this you don't think you should be more patient and humble?" Suddenly he got up from his chair, walked over to the minibar, and poured himself some brandy, not bothering to offer a dose to the girl. He took a full swallow and took a deep breath.
"Sorry for my intransigence, sir." Rachel decided to step back, but it was a strategic move. "I'm so grateful for all the buttons they gave me. Being part of this organization is a privilege and I am faithful to our cause to the end. Santana... you have to understand that her sudden departure was a thud... Santana is like a sister to me. She took care of me and sorted things out. Suddenly she left, I was kicked out to Puckerman's house, I had to took care of a circle, and I am practically Quinn Fabray's nanny. It's not that simple and I'm just a teenager..."
"You're constitutionally an adult."
"With all due respect you understood me!"
Pierce looked at the young woman in front of him and needed to acknowledge that there were valid points in her arguments.
"I wish I could do more for you and everyone else. I really do. But we must fulfill our obligations to win this war, and your task is to stay and learn until you can take on more important roles in our circles."
"I see... but could you do me a favour? Of these favours I couldn't ask anyone else?"
"As long as it's not a ticket to the East, I can think about it. What is it?"
"How could I contact Lester Goldman?"
The mention of the name caught Pierce by surprise and this was evident from the parliamentarian's expression. It was obvious that he didn't expect Rachel Berry, his daughter's friend, to have heard about that man who belongs to the circle of the eight.
"What do you know about him?"
"I know he's one of the few people in this country with a free pass to the East, and he's connected to business transactions of some sort." Rachel thanked Santana's files mentally. "Mr Goldman is known as a bon vivant, which is one of the key pieces in the knot in the capital." The second part of the information was a shot in the dark. Judging by the parliamentarian's expression, she hit the mark. And she didn't even need to be so precise.
"Where did you get this information?"
"Let's just say I have some surprises, too." Rachel smiled confident now that she had a new trump card in her sleeves.
"Is that all you know about Goldman?"
"Yes."
"Rachel..." He pressed.
"Okay... I know he can be my biological father and I think that's why I get so many direct and indirect button privileges. I have no idea why he never came to me and didn't even want to take me when my parents were tried and executed just because they were gay. I don't know why a man with his position would let me be in the foster program with a radon family. Anyway, now that you know I know, don't you think it would be fair for me to have five minutes with Mr. Goldman?"
Pierce stared at Rachel. He couldn't hide such a surprise, and he didn't expect that girl could turn the negotiations around like that.
"Well... I'll keep you informed. Until then, keep doing your job."
"Thank you." Rachel got up.
Rachel went back to the party. The DJ had already called the guests to the cake. She saw Quinn talking to Matt. Rachel didn't resist and hugged Quinn tightly.
"Hey girl, go slow with this lady" Matt teased. "You won't want to cause another fight at this party."
Quinn looked at her with concern, apologized to Matt and pulled Rachel into a quiet corner.
"Are you all right?"
"I think I have a chance."
"Chance of what?"
"To get out. Just like you, I think I have a chance to leave."