Chapter 12 Madame President
They're brought to a covered wagon and told to give up their weapons.
"Yeah, no," says Miles.
"We're not getting in there unless you tell us where we're going," says Monroe.
The guards look at each other, before one says, "White House."
"To see...?" Monroe again.
"President Affleck."
"President Affleck?" Monroe looks at Miles. "Fancy."
Miles returns the look and then looks to the rest of the group, as does Monroe.
"We've come this far," Rachel says, and they give up their weapons and get in the wagon.
"I think I liked the train better," Connor snarks.
"How well do you know Affleck?" Charlie looks across the wagon to Miles, and then next to her to Monroe.
Miles and Monroe share a look. "I met her once," says Miles. "When she came to the Republic to talk about trade."
"And we all got really drunk," says Bass, smiling at the memory. Charlie's eyebrows shoot up, but he doesn't notice.
"Do you trust her?" she asks. "She struck me as pretty honest," Miles says, "but I never talked to her after that."
"We communicated by letter, and she always struck me as a straight shooter," Bass says. "But I guess we'll see."
Charlie moves to get more comfortable on the wagon seat. In doing so, she rubs Monroe's shoulder, and he looks to her, thinking she's trying to get his attention. They catch eyes and hold their gaze for a few knowing seconds. Each is thinking about the night before. He eyes brighten and he gives her a hint of a smile, she lifts up the corner of her mouth in return, then she leans into his shoulder and looks away.
But she still thinks about it. She's had sex with a handful of men in her life, but none of them meant a thing to her. Bass was the first time that part of the enjoyment was because of who she was with. Her mind drifts as she sits next to him, feeling the heat of his body. Thinking of him touching her, teasing her, focusing solely on her pleasure. The sounds he made when she was teasing him. And he was fun. His playfulness surprised her, although it probably shouldn't have. The more she knows him the more she sees the funny and caring man that was Miles's best friend and confidant. Her mind drifts to what lies ahead. What was his relationship with Governor Affleck from the California Commonwealth? She's jealous, and she hates that.
Bass is having similar thoughts as he sits next to Charlie. Sex with her was better than his fantasies of having sex with her, and he'd definitely had those. She was passionate and responsive and fun. For the past few years, sex had been simple and transactional. He had a need and fulfilled it. After Shelly died, he didn't think he could ever have meaningful sex anymore. And then this woman barged into his life. He was more drawn to her than to any woman, ever. Just his luck that she had to be a Matheson. But it was too late now.
After an hour, they slow down, and they all turn to peak through holes in the wagon's canvas. They've approached a huge wall.
"Mathesons and Monroe," they hear their guards tell the gate guards.
"Hope we didn't just hand ourselves over to a firing squad," says Monroe.
Aaron gives Monroe a disbelieving look. "Don't say that. Why would you say that?"
They stop after clearing a second checkpoint in front of the White House. It's covered in ivy and needs a paint job, but otherwise appears to be in decent shape.
One of the men take down the back of the wagon. "Everyone out."
Miles and Monroe are the first to exit, followed by Charlie. But as soon as she steps out, she spots the sunlight dancing off a gun pointing from a window in the Old Executive Office Building. "Gun!" she screams, as shots ring out, piercing the wagon canvas right where Monroe's head had been.
"You will die, Sebastian Monroe!" they hear someone scream.
They hit the ground and skate under the wagon.
"What was that about a firing squad, you dick?" says Miles, as all three of them reach for their hidden guns in their ankle holsters. They scoot to the edge of their safe spot and Miles shoots a warning shot towards the OEB.
Suddenly a series of shots ring into the air, and they duck again, Monroe half-covering Charlie with his body.
"Cease fire!" a woman calls out. She says something to her team and they flank the wagon, giving everyone a chance to get away from the wagon and inside. They're brought into the main reception room, each with a security guard standing next to them, except Miles and Monroe who each have two. The woman joins them in the room. "Affleck," say Miles and Monroe at once. "Miles. Bass." Her eyes rest on Monroe. "I heard you were dead." "I almost was, thanks to your welcoming committee."
"Sorry about that. You don't have a lot of fans here." She turns to the rest of the group. "I see you've brought some friends." She looks at Rachel. "Rachel Matheson. The one who started all this mess I believe."
Rachel just blinks. Affleck smiles. "We're not just surfing all day in California. I've got little birds everywhere."
She moves to Aaron standing next to Rachel. "And Aaron Pittman. We met once. You might not remember that. Fundraising event in San Francisco. Senator Feinstein's house."
"I do remember that actually."
She nods her head and looks at Connor. "Monroe's son, I assume." He just stares at her. She smiles and looks at Monroe. "Your fight in New Vegas was big news. Word travels."
She steps to Charlie, looking at her thoughtfully. "And I assume you're the woman who smuggled them out of there." Charlie says nothing. Affleck looks at Monroe and then back at Charlie. She notices how close they're standing to each other, but it's more than that. It's a protective energy that they each have when she's talking to the other.
"And I assume you're also the woman seen traveling with him, who was held hostage at the train station?" Charlie's cheeks color the slightest bit and Affleck knows she's right. She turns to Monroe, raising eyebrows. "Romantic." He glares at her in return.
She grins, clearly loving this. She steps back to talk to them as a group. "You're not the stealthiest bunch," she informs them. "Stories have been following you for months. The Tower. New Vegas, Texas Rangers in Austin. And I knew as soon as you were headed this way. Nice touch, saving the train from being robbed, by the way. Very Wild West."
"Okay Jen," Monroe puts up a hand. "Now we get to ask some questions. What are you doing here, and what's your plan?"
"That's fair." She steps back and perches on the arm of a chair. "I'm here because I heard there was a vacancy. Which I assume is true of you all as well." She looks to them, but none of them reveal a thing. Smiling, she goes on. "I thought it was time that someone decent stepped in and righted this ship. And I didn't know or trust anyone to do it except me."
"You always were incredibly sure of yourself," says Monroe. She nods to him. "That's true. So, what are you doing here?" "Same."
"Uh huh." She looks back and forth between Monroe, Miles, and Rachel. "I'm supposed to believe that the former dictator of the Monroe Republic, the Butcher of Baltimore, and the ... apocalypse creator just want to help." She points a thumb over her shoulder at Aaron. "And what about Pittman? Where does he factor in?"
"Jen, honestly, we're just trying to fix things," says Monroe.
"Right." She turns to the guards. "Split them up. Leave Monroe here, I'll talk to him first."
Everyone else is hustled out...
"I heard they injected you in Texas," Affleck says to Monroe. "How'd you escape death?"
"Rachel Matheson."
"Interesting. And surprising." Affleck sits, and gestures for Bass to sit. "What happened to you, Bass?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean the man I met was maybe a little overwhelmed, but certainly not a monster. But the stories I heard...I warned Californians not to visit the Republic. It was too dangerous."
"You always were blunt, Jen. Glad you haven't changed." He crosses and sits in a chair across from her. He looks out the window to think for a beat, before turning back to her. "Power wasn't good for me." He shrugs.
"Well I'll agree with you there. So why are you here?" "Same reason you are." "In your own words, please." "Power vacuum. I wanted a say in who filled it."
She nods her head, "And do you want to fill it?" "No. Not unless I have to."
"What was your plan in coming to DC? That's obviously where you were headed when I found you."
He clasps his fingers together and rests them on his stomach. "Well, we didn't really have a plan."
"I didn't either." She leans back in her chair. "Feels like we're right back where we started sometimes."
"Which is why we might be in the perfect situation to fix it." "Like a reboot." "I guess." She waits a beat, considering him.
"So who's the girl?" She moves her head indicate the door Charlie just left through.
"Charlie Matheson." Affleck raises her eyebrow in question, so he continues. "Rachel's daughter. Miles's niece."
"Tell me about her." "What do you want to know?" "Whatever you think I should know." "She's tough, a good fighter, can hold her own." "Did she travel with Miles to Philadelphia?" "You do have little birds everywhere." "Did she try to kill you?" "Maybe." "And she was at the Tower when the bombs dropped." "You'd have to ask her about that." "You're in a relationship with her?"
He just stares at her, so she continues, counting off on her fingers. "Let's see...you were spotted together in Vegas, Austin, some towns outside of Texas, and of course, my favorite, the hostage situation at a train station where you gave yourself up for her."
"Are you going somewhere with this, Jen?"
She laughs. "Just because we don't have TV and the internet anymore, you think people don't know what you look like? Who you are?"
"All of us were in a lot of places together."
"But you weren't seen 'canoodling'– I love that word – in a bar with anyone else. Not that I heard, anyway."
Again, he says nothing, but his eyes start to squint in warning. She changes topics again. "Tell me about Rachel Matheson and Randall Flynn."
"He was DoD, and she was working on the power project for him, or with him. Her project turned off the power."
"And she can turn it back on?"
"I don't know. I was hoping she could."
She nods her head. "And Flynn launched the bombs. Just him. True?"
"True, for the most part."
"But you weren't there."
"I wasn't, but I was the asshole who let him in. Look Jen, this has been real great playing catch up, but I want to know what your plan is."
She stands up from the chair and walks to the window, looking out over what used to be grass. "I don't know Bass. But I sure as hell don't want the Patriots 2.0 to take over. And yes, they actually call themselves that." She turns to him. "I want to trust you, I really do. I don't want to do this myself. But this isn't going to be the Monroe Republic. And if that's your plan, I'm going to toss you right out of here."
He pauses, considering how honest he wants to be. The hell with it – he'll just lay it all out there. "My son wants power. I don't want the Monroe Republic either, but I have to give him something."
"Okay, we can figure that out. And what about you? What do you want?" "I want to fix what I broke."
She stares into his eyes, judging his sincerity. "You've changed," she decides. "Maybe. What if I asked you to stay here and help me create a government?"
He gives a little laugh. "Why?"
"Because I need someone else who knows how a government is run."
"What did you have in mind?"
"Be a sounding board for one. Help me figure this all out. But also to train some of these kids. Some of them look up to you as a military hero."
"Why?" Bass is truly flabbergasted.
She shrugs. "Hell if I know." Then she laughs. "Come on, Bass. If there was one thing you were good at it was military strategy. I mean, before your strategy was just Kill 'em All. I was impressed with the Republic when you first started it. It seemed like you were really trying to create something helpful."
"We were."
"So I want that Monroe. Maybe National Security Advisor? DoD? Talk to Miles because I'd love to have you work together on this. But you are not – I repeat, not going to undermine me or turn New USA into a dictatorship. I'm hoping the Mathesons will help me prevent that."
This plan sounds interesting to him, but dangerous for those he loves. "Look, Jen. It was already dangerous for people to be around me, and it's clearly even more dangerous now..."
"I'll put people on Ms. Matheson." He blows out a breath. "She'd hate that."
Affleck smiles. "I know she can defend herself pretty well. But for your peace of mind, I can put a guard on her."
"I'll think about it."
"That's all I ask. Well, that and don't try to kill me." She smiles at him, patting him on the shoulder as she leaves. "Love suits you, Bass."
Affleck meets with Charlie in the east room.
"Ms. Matheson."
Charlie says nothing. "Please sit." Affleck sits. "Call me Jen. Can I call you Charlie?" Charlie sits. Says nothing. Affleck says nothing.
Finally Charlie caves and says, "Sure." Affleck smiles. "I deliberately chose to talk to you last."
Charlie says nothing. Affleck continues. "You intrigue me."
Charlie can't help herself. "Why."
"Because I've heard stories about you."
Charlie raises an eyebrow. "Stories?"
"Lots of them. They call you the Girl Warrior."
"Who does?"
She shrugs. "I've heard the stories from different people. About you saving conscripted kids, convincing the Scourge of Scranton to take you to Monroe so you could kill him, saving more young kids in Austin...Any of this sound right?"
"Close enough."
"Imagine my surprise to find out who you really are."
"So?"
"You are a woman of very few words. I like that. But here's the thing..." she leans forward, her elbows on her knees. "I think you really care about people. And I need that."
Charlie just stares at her, so she continues. "Now it's your turn to talk. Tell me what you want to do."
Charlie says nothing, just studies her face.
So Affleck continues, "Okay, how about I show you my cards? I'm here because I want a government that isn't corrupt. I don't particularly want to do it, but someone has to. Might has well be me. But I can't do it alone.
"Your mother and Aaron have already agreed to work together to get the lights back on. I know about the thumb drive hidden in the Pentagon. Connor Bennet has shown interest in working with Aaron. I've asked Miles and Bass to train a military that I can trust, and to be National Defense. I've also asked Bass to help me put together a government because he has experience doing that. He's not quite as sold on that, because I think he wants to talk to you first.
"But I'm curious what you want to do. The Girl Warrior with the ability to empathize with people and unite them."
"What makes you think I can do that?" "Your relationship with Monroe, for one." She smiles. "But if even half the stories I've heard about you are true, then I'm convinced. Plus you're tough as hell and I suspect you have the leadership quality that I'm looking for."
"To lead what?"
"That's why I asked what you want to do. Think about it. You don't have to give me an answer right now." She leans forward as if to stand up, but she sees that Charlie is still seated. She leans back into her chair and waits for Charlie to speak.
"I want to see the world," Charlie tells her.
Affleck nods. "Okay. Would you be willing to start with the United States until – assuming we will – get the power back?"
"What do you have in mind?"
"Ambassador. Maybe more. Depends on what you want."
"I'll think about it."
"Okay." She leans forward to shake Charlie's hand. "It's been a pleasure meeting you, Charlie Matheson. Shall we meet back with everyone else?"
They walk across the hall to the library. Affleck enters the room and takes command by the fireplace. Charlie hovers in the doorway, leaning against the frame. Her eyes search out Monroe's, and they search each other's eyes for a hint of what the other is thinking.
"Thanks for being so patient, and – for the most part – trusting. Anyone want something to drink?" She pours herself some water and waves the bottle to them.
Bass looks away from Charlie to Affleck. "Cut to the chase Jen, this is starting to feel like bad dinner theater."
"Glad to see your sense of humor hasn't changed." She leans on a chair arm. "Here's what I want: I will be President until we can all agree on someone else. Aaron and Rachel, you'll have whatever you need to get the lights back on. Connor will work with you. Miles and Bass, you're going to train an army and plan our national defense. Bass and Charlie you're going to help me form the core of our government. Charlie I'd like you to be Vice President and Ambassador among the New United States and eventually – hopefully – represent the United States on the global stage."
She stands from her chair. "So that's what I want. You talk amongst yourselves. I'm headed to the Oval Office to work, and you're welcome to join me there. Otherwise, the entire house is yours. I stay at the old Willard Hotel across the street – the rooms are nicer. But the rooms here are made up for you to stay."
She heads to the door. "Or you're welcome to leave. But dinner is at sunset at the Willard. I hope to see you there. Oh, and my security is pretty tight, so don't get any ideas. Not that you would." She winks, and leaves.