Chapter 236
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While the heroes waited for Groitzig to return with news of Sela they observed who else was in charge around here. Spiderman recognize three high ranking officers from the news, Peter did after all work for a newspaper. These three had been generals in the Red Army. They were unable to adapt to the Russian Federation, and they strongly disagreed with Gorbachev's reforms. Thus, in the early 1990s they led a military coup, involving Omega Red. They tried to force all the former soviet republics back and reconstitute the Soviet Union. It was there fore not suprising that they wouldend up working for Stalin, even in Hell. As Peter recalled the coup had been stopped, in large part because of the intervention of the Xmen, and Storm freezing Omega Red in ice. And two "cops" that he believed he recognized as Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow. They had gone from criminals to police officers. They seemed to like this newfound authority. This ofcourse would not be the first time that a new state needed to make police officers out of individuals who had once been classified as criminals. For example, many bolshevics were classified as criminals under the tsar, and as heroes after the October Revolution. Sometimes it worked, sometimes not. Bonnie and Clyde easily abused this new power, had little problem adapting to the new version of communism.
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People were dragged from their homes on trumped up charges, and impaled near the city gates. There was no question that some of those impaled probably deserved their fate. Peter recognized one as Bernie Madoff, the grifter who stole the social security checks of holocaust survivors, all so that he could lead a lavish and expensive lifestyle. Peter Parker lived in New Yor City, he knew people who had lost everything to Madoff, he'd stopped more than one person from jumping to their deaths because of him. One person, a 16 year old girl, Spiderman saved her once, but despite his best efforts to get through to her, this girl still ended up commiting suicide. As far as Peter Parker was concerned, Madoff was getting off easy. But there was also Hayley Beck. In life, Hayley had been the spoiled daughter of Morris Beck, a contractor who used cheap materials and didn't care if people died because of his lousy work. Hayley worried about her father losing all of his money before she could inherit. She thus conspired to have her father murdered. Hayley was caught, convicted, lived the rest of her life in prison. It wasn't suprising that Stalin and Vlad the impaler would classify her as a class enemy. She had served her sentance, but Stalin was suspicious of many people, he wasn't taking chances.
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Finally, Groitzig returned and brought Tasha to see her child. Apparently Sela wanted to see her mother alone. Whether she was perhaps still angry at her mother for betraying the romulans, or feared her mother might want revenge, Tasha didn't yet know. But she would soon find out. The guards brought Tasha to Sela's room, then left them alone.
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Sela: Hello mother.
Tasha: It's good to see you again, my daughter. You look just like me.
Sela: So I've been told. Do you seek revenge against me?
Tasha: Ofcourse not. You're my child. What I did, I tried to protect you.
Sela: Really. I seem to remember a time when you couldn't even look at me. When I tried to play with you, and you yelled for me to go away.
Tasha: I'm sorry. I hoped that you were too young to remember...
Sela: My first memories actually. I realize now, I was just an inconvenience to you. A way to make sure that my father showed you mercy.
Tasha: It was hard for me, after he raped me, knowing how you were concieved. But I did love you.
Sela: If you'd had a choice in the matter, would I have even been born?
Tasha: I'm honestly not sure.
Sela: And you wonder why I choose to embrace my romulan heritage. Just answer me one question.
Tasha: Anything.
Sela; Why did you try to take me? You must have known it was a risk, that it would have been easier to escape without a small child.
Tasha: Because I love you. It's a myth that all mothers love their children instantly. In my case, it took time. But I do love you, and I couldn't leave you behind.
Sela: Do you hate my father, or are you grateful that he gave me to you?
Tasha; A little of both, in all honesty. Is that why you allied with Salin, because he reminds you of certain romulan leaders?
Sela: He is the best hope for improving life here. He cares for the people, and he's not afraid to dirty his own hands.
Tasha: I don't supposse you want to leave here, help join the fight against Evil?
Sela: What makes you think Evil will come from Hell? Earth seems capable of fighting in wars without our influence. Not unlike the klingon civil war. That war was inevitable, my people merely chose a side. Your world will soon see a war between Antarctica and America.
Tasha: Only if Turner wins the election. Do you know something?
Sela: Only that I have little faith in your world. If you want to know where your other friends, the clone of Mary Jane Watson and Jacen Solo, are, I can help you with that. As for you and me, let's not make each other promises that can't be kept