Chapter Two Press Conference
"The actual interview will start at exactly 1:30, so you must be exactly two minutes early…"
"Ma'am, Minister Jorges called to confirm your luncheon tomorrow afternoon…"
"InChic magazine will be present, and they requested that you give them a few minutes to take photos of your outfit today…"
Zelda ignored the various voices chattering at her as she stood in her private elevator, watching as the flashing numbers steadily decreased. The various aides and secretaries she had acquired over the years had become such a constant part of her life that she was able to pick all the important bits out without actually having to pay attention to everything else. However, they rarely said anything important at all, so she tended to treat them with a sort of mild neglect. Strangely enough, they didn't seem to mind.
Finally, the elevator arrived at the building's motor pool. Waiting for her was a long black limousine, the chauffer opening the door for her as she appeared. Her aides attempted to offer last minute advice and reminders, but the words were muffled as soon as the door closed behind her. Sighing in relief, she settled back into the comfy leather seats. "There are days when I wish I could just leave all of this behind and retire to one of the more modest sectors of the city, living a regular mundane life with regular mundane responsibilities."
"Do you really?"
Zelda couldn't help but smile at the remark. "You'd be surprised, Impa." Opening her eyes, she looked across at the women who had been her constant companion for as far back as she could remember. Her features may have been attractive at one point, but years of harsh training and discipline had chilled any warmth from them. She wore her iron grey hair short and pulled back into a tail at the nape of her neck. Dressed in a non-descript suit, her crimson eyes were shaded by dark sunglasses, so that any threat she might meet would never know where she was looking.
Sighing again, she continued. "But there's no use complaining about it, I suppose. I was born into wealth, and I must prove worthy of it by fulfilling my responsibilities, however distasteful they may be."
Impa nodded in understanding. "You still believe your father is mistaken in his decision to cooperate with Dragmire."
"Yes. And not just for the reasons he thinks. Yes, I believe that in the long run it will prove hazardous for our company, costing us more than we will gain. But there is something else…something deeper that I cannot explain…"
Again, Impa nodded. "The dreams."
Zelda also nodded. "I know father believes them to be just that. Sub-conscious manifestations of my anxieties over the whole thing. But it is deeper than that…far deeper, and more vital to the survival of Hylia, and possibly even the entire system." She stared out the window, watching as the buildings and traffic passed them by. "Which is why we must find the man with the emerald talisman. I don't know what role he plays in our world's future, but whatever it is, I want to make sure that he is on our side."
"Check."
Link looked down at the board, surveying the positions of his men. Hesitating a moment, he reached down to move his king. Thinking better of it, he instead moved one of his rooks to remove the attacking pawn from the board.
"And that," the old black man sitting across from him smiled, "Is the move that leads to your complete and utter destruction."
"How's that Raury?"
"You hesitated. You second-guessed yourself. Always go with your instincts, youngster. You have them for a reason."
Link smiled as he watched the old man make his move, and responded with his own. "Maybe. But sometimes it's those second considerations that end up saving you from a lot of grief later on."
Raury stroked his white beard, considering his next move. "How long have we been playing together, Link?"
The younger man shrugged. "I dunno. Pretty much every day for the past two years."
"Uh huh. Then why is it that you never seem to learn much of anything?"
"Ignorance of youth, I guess. Check."
Raury moved his king out of danger, and Link made his next move. "Let me ask you something Link, and don't feed me no bull-shit answer. You ever wonder about your life? About where you are, why you're there, and if that's where you should be?"
Again, Link shrugged, but this time it was slower. "Everybody wonders about those things."
"That wasn't what I asked. Check."
Link frowned. "Sometimes. But then I remember where I came from, and everything becomes clear." He knocked the bishop from the board. "How about you? You ever wonder about those things?"
"Hell no! I know exactly what I'm doing here. Me, I'm like this rook here. I only know how to go one way, in a straight line. You, on the other hand," he picked up his knight. "Are like this one. You have the most obscure movement on the board, and yet you're still one of the most dangerous. But you're only useful if you have some sort of direction, some sort of purpose. If you don't, then all you are is another pawn. And you're too important to be one of those." He placed the knight down. "Checkmate, fool. Better luck tomorrow."
Link grinned. "Someday, some far off day I'm sure, I'll figure out all these things you're telling me, and when I do I'll whip your ass all day long." Glancing at his watch, Link picked up his bag from the ground. "But it won't be today. I gotta go." Getting up from the stool, Link left the old man to his game and made his way through the park. It was late spring, so the grass was green, the trees and flowers were lush, and the weather was fine. At least it was like that here on the upper levels. Link came up this way only a couple times a month, when he had to pay off his bills. He could have just paid through one of the terminals on his own level, but Danko preferred to pay him under the table in cash, and he was perfectly fine with that; less ways to trace him. However, he had to admit to himself that he enjoyed coming up this high, into the fresh air. There were very few natural environments in the massive city, and Link always enjoyed being able to bask in the life he found in them, he could never quite explain what that connection was. Nevertheless, it was better than the hellholes he was used to living in.
He made his way through the crowded streets, passing through crowds of well-dressed people talking on cell phones or hustling in and out of the towering buildings. He had never liked big crowds like this, preferring to be out in the open, with wide open spaces around him, but on a planet as large as Hyrule and in a city as big as this, he had conceded that having that much room wasn't going to happen any time soon.
Reaching his destination, he stepped up to the large metal cubicle standing outside of a bank. Stepping inside, he shut the door behind him and faced the small, circular opening situated just level with his eye located above a blue touch screen. He waited patiently as the camera recorded his image, designated by a light click in the mechanism. A cold, completely forgettable female voice greeted him. "GOOD MORNING SIR. PLEASE ENTER YOUR SIX DIGIT RECOGNITION CODE." Typically, the recognition code provided the computer with all of the entrant's personal information; name, height, age, things like that. Not wanting anyone to know any of that, Link entered on of the phantom codes he had created years ago, of which he had once had many but now only the one remained. Again, he waited for the computer's response. "THANK YOU, MR. MIYAMOTO. PLEASE SELECT YOUR TRANSACTION." Link pressed "Payment To" and removed a plain white envelope from his bag. Inserting it into the slot, he waited for confirmation. "PAYMENT RECEIVED. THE HYLIA CORPORATION WISHES YOU A WONDERFUL DAY."
"Yeah, I bet," Link muttered as he exited the cubicle and back into the sunlight. Glancing at his watch, he discovered that he had couple of hours to kill until he had to be at the bar. He took a deep breath and again basked in the joy of being outside. The sun was out, the sky was clear; wouldn't be a bad day to take a walk.
"…And now, ladies and gentlemen, I am honored to introduce to you Zelda, Vice President of the Hylia Corporation."
The aide stepped to the side and led the applause as Zelda stepped up to the podium. Cameras flashed and reporters were already asking questions as she walked across the stage. Dressed in a stylish jacket, blouse and skirt, her golden hair cut so the tresses fell just below the shoulders, it was obvious why they considered her the media darling of the decade. Flashing a smile she waved to the crowd.
"And now, Ganondorf Dragmire, President of Dragmire Industries."
The smile on Zelda's face wavered for an instant as the other man stepped out from behind the curtain. Tall, powerfully built, and physically imposing, he was dressed in a smooth three-piece suit meant not only to emphasize his muscular frame, but also to subtly flaunt the vast wealth at his disposal. His olive hued skin contrasted with the fiery orange hair slicked back from his brow, and his toothy grin had a wolfish look about it. Joining Zelda, he took her hand and shook it for the cameras. After the cameramen had had their chance, he stepped up to the microphone. "Ladies and gentlemen…it is my great honor and pleasure to announce a new era of cooperation between our two corporations, one that we hope will lead to greater prosperity not only for our own planet, but for all of the galaxy. This new accordance will open up new space lanes, no trade opportunities, and new lines of communication…"
Zelda had listened to Ganondorf's lengthy speech, then had added one of her own, all the while smiling and pretending that she fully supported her father's plan to sign new agreements with Dragmire's company. She had smiled and nodded, laughed at the appropriate times, and generally presented an image of ease and confidence.
What a story the reporters would have had could they had seen her inner thoughts.
Zelda waved to the crowd one last time before she sidled into the car waiting for her. Across from her was Impa, sitting straight and alert. Pressing a button on the console beside her, she signaled for the driver to start moving. "It is done," she said once they were under way.
Zelda could only sigh. "Yes, it is done. We have a week before the changes come into effect, and then, in all senses of the word, we are screwed."
"Then you must think of ways to maintain control over the situation."
"I already have," Zelda replied, staring out the tinted and reinforced window. "But none of them will work unless we find…"
She trailed off, something outside her window having caught her eye. "Stop the car!"
Impa gave her a puzzled look. "Mistress, I…"
"STOP THE CAR NOW!"
Impa hit another button and the driver complied. The second the wheels stopped moving, Zelda was up and out, despite protestations from her bodyguard. She stood on the street, her head turning back and forth in search of the man she had just seen. "Mistress, what is going on?" Impa demanded.
"I saw him, Impa," Zelda replied. "The man from my dreams…I saw him just now…" Searching a moment longer, she then stepped back into the car. "I want all vid-records of this and the surrounding five sectors on my desk by the time I reach my office. Make it discreet; I don't want this to be traced back to me."
"And if it is the man from your dreams?" Impa asked once they were under way. "What will you do then?"
Zelda smirked, placing her sunglasses back on her nose. "The same thing I do with everyone I find to be useful: offer him a job.
Link wasn't sure what all the commotion was for as he made his way through the crowd. There were a lot of people in suits wandering around, as well as a lot of camera bots and news crews, so he assumed there had been some sort of spectacle or interview with the media-flavor-of-the-month. Shaking his head in dismissal, he continued on his way to the lower levels.
As did the man who was following him.
