Gundam SEED Rebuild
Ch. 10 – Treacherous Horizons
Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam SEED. The Lockheed and Donnelly families, Glenn's immediate family, and Doug McLaney are my OCs. Andria Yamasaki is Titanic-X-21's OC. Mark Allen and Mackenzie Allen are ZAFT Convoy's OCs.
One month after the birth of Elias Lockheed, July, CE 54...
Jacksonville, Florida
Adrian's eyes were solemn as he stood before the grave of his late wife. His first son, Derek held onto his left hand, while in his right hand, he held the little bundle that was Elias, his second one.
"Hey Honey," Adrian tenderly greeted, "it's been a while..." He was greeted back with the solemn ambient silence of the grave.
"Well, you're not exactly here, since you're in heaven with our Lord," Adrian continued, "you would be happy to know that our sons are doing well."
"Little Derek here," he chuckled as he looked down, "has become more of Big Derek now that he's got a little brother."
"I'm being strong, Mommy," Derek chirped, "Eli and I miss you, Mommy."
"But we know you are looking down from heaven," the little boy sniffed, "and happy up there." Beside him, his father nodded.
"Yes, she is, Derek," Adrian answered. It was still hard, even a month later, to visit Martha's grave. "If only..." Adrian sighed heavily. While life was lonelier, at the same time, he felt at peace knowing she was with the Lord.
Yet, in His great mercy through Martha's faith and the Glenn family's generosity, the Lord gave him and Derek the little bundle of life that was Elias. Elias cooed as he opened his eyes, looking up at his father. As though on cue, Derek hugged his father's leg, as though to comfort him.
"Eli and I are here, Daddy," Derek assured.
Adrian nodded, feeling at ease with the two of them close by. Elias nuzzled his head into Adrian's chest in comfort as Derek reached up further to hug his waist. The naval officer closed his eyes. "Our sons are really growing up," he murmured, "God... thank you for these two little bundles, and that my beloved need not suffer anymore..."
With that said, Adrian turned and guided little Derek back towards the car in the cemetery parking lot.
Next to his car was Jeff and Andria, who were standing and watching from their own car. Andria stood with her head bowed in respect. Jeff looked on with a sympathetic smile as his friend returned with his children.
""It's not easy for the guy," Jeff murmured.
Andria raised her head, remembering her own mother's death a few years back. "It's never easy to lose someone close to you," she murmured. Jeff nodded as he slipped a hand into hers.
Jeff then turned to face Adrian as he returned. "Feeling better?" he asked.
Adrian gave a deep exhale. "I'm just coming to terms with her absence," he relented, "sleep isn't quite the same without her."
"I'm sorry to hear that," Jeff expressed, "she was a delight for all of us."
Andria looked at the two boys. She put on a gentle face, but behind it, her head was swirling with uncertainty. The whole thing was really starting to tear at her idea of being a mother. It was hard to witness someone dying, but to see two little kids lose their mother really shook her.
"Yes, she was," Adrian replied, "God rest her soul."
Jeff then felt the tension in his wife's hand. "You okay?" he asked.
Andria was startled out of her thoughts. "Oh, it's nothing," she defended.
"Auntie Andria?" Derek piqued up, sensing something. Elias even squeaked as he looked towards her.
"I'm sorry. Just remembering your mother," Andria said, kneeling down and scooping up the older boy.
"You're very sad, Auntie," Derek voiced, "I feel you're sad.
"I know," Andria whispered. "It's just... I've seen loss before, but it hurts when someone close to you dies."
"But... Daddy says Mommy is better in heaven," Derek replied.
"Yes. I agree," Andria said, "but she left us here to grieve."
"Andria," Jeff murmured towards his wife, a bit disappointed with her moping response.
Adrian then said to Andria, "I can assure you Andria that while we do grieve, it is not like we have no hope. Martha went knowing that Eli here has life, and that she can watch us from a far more enjoyable place with our Lord than she did here on Earth. Those thoughts take a lot of the sting from my heart, and I choose to rejoice in having this little one with me." He wiggled his second son in his arms with a smile for emphasis, eliciting a cute laugh.
Andria gave a nod. "Yes." She then looked to Jeff.
Jeff gave an understanding smile. "I know," he said, "how about you go wait in the car? We'll go to the beach afterwards."
Andria nodded. "Sure."
Adrian then put Elias in his baby carrier and coaxed Derek into the passenger seat. "Wait here with your brother, son."
"Okay, Daddy!" Derek chirped.
It was then that the two men walked a short distance away to a pond across from the road and the cemetery. Jeff glanced to Adrian. "Adrian, you know how much Andria and I are new to the whole marriage."
"I know," Adrian said with an understanding tone.
"She's a tough woman," Adrian added, "but I can tell that something's bothering her more than she lets on."
Jeff exhaled deeply in admission. Adrian read him well.
"If you don't mind," Adrian asked, "what troubles you both?"
"I think it has to do with what happened to Martha," Jeff murmured, "she puts on a tough and confident face, but I know... I see it in her eyes."
Adrian gave a small nod. "You've still been talking of making little ones in the oven," he chipped in.
"Hey," the young Glenn bumped shoulders in friendly rebuke. The two men chuckled a bit. Then Jeff looked down. "But for some reason, Andria seems to be putting it off."
"Trouble in paradise? You both seemed eager enough to ask me and Martha then," Adrian quizzed.
Jeff sighed and shook his head. "I don't know..." he exhaled, "but now it's like she's not certain anymore. I think a part of her blames herself for Martha... and it's holding her back. I worry that she might be having second thoughts."
"Second thoughts about having children?" Adrian asked, a bit saddened from hearing that.
Jeff was silent, but then nodded. "I think that's what bothering her."
"But she's a Coordinator like you," Adrian reminded.
"Yeah, but we're not all-invincible," Jeff rebuffed, a bit more stridently than he intended, "we just happen to have more robust immune systems and physiology, but that's just it." Jeff then crossed his arms. "And then I have my mom getting more and more on my case..."
"She's wanting to know when she can be the 'doting old grandma' in the house," the young Glenn chuckled a bit at his phrasing.
Adrian could not help but chuckle at the comment.
"Don't forget the part about crazy, loving grandpas," Adrian joked, "my dad's even more of that kind and looking forward even more to his retirement once he finishes his term."
"I have a feeling your dad will get in on the fun in a heartbeat when you and Andria have the heart to get at it." Adrian added with a wink.
"Adrian," Jeff playfully bumped his friend's shoulder, eliciting laughter.
Adrian then patted Jeff on the shoulder. "However way this turns out," he expressed, "I wish Godspeed to the both of you."
"Thanks," the young Glenn beamed, "you're the best, you know that?"
"I try for my friends," Adrian smiled back as the two men returned to the cars.
George Glenn Residence, Fort Worth, Texas
"I see..." Glenn muttered, holding the phone close. He glanced towards the TV which showed less-than-encouraging scenes around the country. Already some people were protesting the lack of vaccines and medicines outside one of the hospitals. Some people were crying out that Glenn had lied to them, and some were even saying that he had no vaccines in existence. Various politicians were also not wasting time taking their swipes at him and his company, lobbing insinuations and accusations of dishonest marketing and swindling the taxpayers of valuable dollars. The late-night shows were no kinder as they caricatured Glenn and others on his side in the most vicious ways possible.
"Can any of your people track down where they are now?" Glenn asked his friend, Senator Lockheed.
"They're doing their best," the old senator said, "but we've been getting limited information from the White House."
"It's been nearly two months, Mark," Glenn pointed out, "I upheld my end of the contract with the federal government, and all I'm seeing on the news is more sickness, more restrictions, and even more unrest as this whole crisis drags on. Has the president offered any explanation on what is being done with the medicine and vaccine I promised?"
"I know, George. I'm just as baffled as you are," Mark answered, "and there has been no real explanation on his end for this. We're trying to get to the bottom of it. And you know how Mark Allen is when he gets his teeth into something like this."
"Well, please do encourage him to really get his teeth in on this," Glenn coaxed as he continued to watch, "I've contracted with your government in good faith, and I'd like to know that my resources are going to be used in good faith."
"We will," Mark assured his friend. "I know Senator Allen and he is incredibly stubborn. Once he bites, he never lets it go." He chuckled a bit. "I've no doubt about his determination and powers of negotiation."
"Thanks, Mark," George expressed as he rubbed his forehead, "you two are the best up on Capitol Hill, you know that?"
Senator Lockheed chuckled. "That's right, old friend. That's right."
Glenn chuckled, "well, have a good afternoon, Mark." As he hung up, he turned to see a tired-looking Helen Glenn coming back into the house from her work in their greenhouse.
"Hey, George," Helen said, holding a basket of tomatoes.
"Hi, Honey," George greeted as he quickly switched off the TV. He smiled and complimented, "good weekend harvest?"
"Yep." Helen gave a smile as she set down the basket. "Enough to make your favorite pasta and salad to get your mind off the entire news cycle. Nothing but strife and hatred on there."
Glenn chuckled a bit. "Wait until you listen to the hate mail I get." Helen rolled her eyes playfully at that.
"If you don't mind, this one is pretty rich," Glenn said as he tapped on the house phone screen.
The first message played was quite vulgar. And Helen's eyes widened at that. The hater called Glenn things like an abominable tube baby whose mother slept around, an affront to Mother Earth, and 'bourgeoise genetically modified white Christian trash' whose crutch was God and genes because he was never good enough for this 'blue and pure world'. Helen couldn't help but laugh off the ridiculousness of it all.
"Well, I'll gladly ignore the rest of the vitriol," Glenn smirked in amusement, "but I would accept the 'Christian trash' label with honor."
"Only you would," Helen said with a grin as she started to work on preparing the pasta salad.
"Well, I hope not," Glenn sat down on the couch as he looked over design schematics he liked to view and tinker with on his computer pad. The schematics showed a few of the Mobile Workers in development.
Ever since his development of the power suits used on his spaceship, Glenn's interest in their potential had remained strong through the years. Refining and upscaling them meant that they could be used for a wider variety of construction in space and even heavy labor under gravity. A lot of everyday life would benefit from such a vehicle.
Glenn then switched to another file. It was a blueprint of a prototype... a version of the Mobile Worker for defense applications. It both fascinated and terrified Glenn at the same time. Such an application of the Mobile Worker could radically change the nature of modern warfare. He had been to defense symposiums talking about the use of power suits for soldiers on the battlefield, but an armed Mobile Worker of the scale he conceived had the possibility of making the main battle tank look like a paper tiger if given the right armor and weapons.
Glenn frowned to himself… if a Coordinator like him could conceive such use for this technology, how many others like him out there would have the guts to apply it for warfare? Yet here he was… preparing for such a possibility.
Washington D.C.
Mark Allen was in his office when one of his assistants buzzed him on the com. His eyes perked up as he pressed it. "Yes? What is it?" he asked.
"Mr. Allen... a Mr. Hibachi is here to see you."
Senator Allen recognized the name. "Really? Well then, send him in, please," he prompted. The famed senator took a deep breath and walked up to open his door. His visitor was just on the other side.
"Mr. Senator," Mr. Hibachi began, "we need to talk..."
"Very well." Senator Allen let him in and closed the door. "Agent Hibachi," Senator Allen addressed the official, "to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?"
"Senator Allen, I wish I could say it's a pleasure visit," Hibachi replied, "but there is something important I must tell you."
"Wait, what's the matter?" Allen questioned.
"The kind of matter that could get me fired... or worse," Agent Hibachi said, "I let no one else know that I'm here right now."
"Hmm..." Allen pursed his lips. If that was the case... then things could get dangerous. He then proceeded to close his window blinders and leaned out the door briefly to see his assistant. "I want no interruptions for an hour."
"Understood, sir," she said. Mark closed the door. Once the door was closed, he turned to the agent who was now sitting in front of his desk.
"You can be at ease, Agent," he assured, "and you can stop feeling for that gun under your jacket. And do feel free to take it off… it's got to be stuffy with that uniform underneath."
The agent relaxed a bit as he slipped off the coat. Underneath his jacket, he wore a uniform like those of other federal law enforcement agencies, but with a few modifications to show he was a part of the Disease Control and Neutralization Task Force's Anti-Crime Division. "Forgive me, Mr. Allen, but I cannot trust anyone else at the moment."
"What is troubling you, agent?" Allen asked.
Agent Hibachi swallowed hard and began. "I must confess... about what my boss... the president... has been doing with George Glenn's medical supplies."
Allen's eyes narrowed. "Go on..."
Agent Hibachi then produced his government-issued phone. "I've had to turn it off until I was in this room, so no one could track me," Hibachi explained, "but I've got recordings and files here explaining why the vitamins, medicines, and vaccines from Glenn Inc. have been going missing."
That was bad news. Allen's eyes hardened. "That can't be good," he noted.
"It gets worse," Hibachi said as he turned his phone on.
Ten minutes later...
Allen muffled his growl of exasperation behind his lips as he put the phone down.
"I knew President Matthews to be lukewarm towards Glenn," the senator thought aloud, "but... this is just low. Lockheed was right... we never should have trusted him."
"Matthews can put on a meek and composed face," Hibachi said, "but he and some of the others hate Glenn as much as the opposition party. They view him as nothing more than a nuisance," Hibachi added.
"And so... he's willing to squander the whole contract and prolong a health crisis just to humiliate and spite Glenn," Allen surmised. He looked down, becoming thoughtful. "So... Matthews purposefully railroads Glenn Health's contract and continues to procure cheaper drugs and vaccines from these older and larger pharmaceuticals in exchange for political kickbacks."
"And these companies were allowed to bypass standard federal regulations under the pretense of the current emergency," Hibachi pointed out, "and when people I trusted most in the lab performed assessments on them, they've incorporated a lot of potent, but highly addictive components that would never have passed our standard safety tests."
"And you're telling me that not only is the government giving the public drugs that not only have nothing to do with the S2 virus, but they're essentially using the population as guinea pigs for experimental steroids," Allen surmised, "is that what you're telling me?"
Hibachi nodded with a hard swallow.
Allen sighed. "Thank you for coming forward with this... but I must tell you that you're taking an enormous risk with your job and security clearances. You and your family may not even be safe in this town."
"I know, Mr. Allen," the agent said, "but Good Lord Almighty, I could not live with myself shutting up and complying with this."
Allen then connected a USB cable to the phone to download and save the evidence on his desktop. As the files downloaded, he then looked to the agent.
"This president is going to be looking at a whole slew of lawsuits for this kind of treachery," Allen said, "but don't worry. You'll be under my protection."
Hibachi gave a grateful smile. Allen then told his assistant over intercom, "bring Senator Lockheed here. I have something he might want to see."
One hour later...
Senator Lockheed was just as furious as his old friend. "I rue the day I ever endorsed this turncoat," Lockheed shook his head.
"Yes." Senator Allen narrowed his eyes. "But what is really disturbing is the inclusion of addictive components to the drugs that have been put out."
"What do you mean?" Lockheed raised an eyebrow.
Allen sighed. "That fool and his surgeon general just started sending out less costly drugs and vaccines from the larger companies. And some of the stuff sent out had highly addictive and potent components added to them. Ones that wouldn't have passed the safety tests." His eyes narrowed a bit more. "And I'm worried about what that might mean for people who take them."
"And all this just to spite George Glenn, while giving these guys more bang for the buck on their crud of pharmaceuticals."
"Also, there are people whom one should be wary of in those companies," Agent Hibachi remarked, sliding a list forward.
Lockheed looked at the list and frowned. He recognized the names. "Great, of all the people to deal with..."
"You do realize the risks, right, sirs?" Agent Hibachi asked.
"How could I not?" The elderly Lockheed answered, "this has deep state and Blue Cosmos collaborators written all over it." The other two men nodded.
"Well, Mark," Allen quipped to his political partner, "I think at this point, it's safe to say that we've got both sides in Washington unified in their conspiring to use a good crisis to humiliate their enemies.
"Yes..." Mark Lockheed sighed, "they really don't make anything easy for us..."
Allen's eyes then narrowed. "We need to consider more carefully who we bring into our group from now on. Not everyone in our party is our friend." He looked to his senior and friend. "What's next then, boss?"
Mark Lockheed then gave a nod to Agent Hibachi. "Thank you, Mr. Hibachi," he said, "I'll see to it that my driver gets you back to work discreetly and safely."
"Thank you, sir, but I feel it would be best if I laid low for a while," Hibachi responded.
"Very well," Lockheed assented, "you have sick leave to use?"
"Yes. I do," the agent said.
"And you normally take a bus, and have no personal vehicle to pick up?"
Hibachi nodded. "That's correct."
"All the better then," Lockheed remarked, "I'll have my driver take you straight home. Under no circumstances are you to contact anyone else except me and Allen, and don't accept any visitors unless we send someone your way."
"Thank you, Mr. Lockheed," Hibachi expressed.
"And thank you for coming forth with this," Allen added, "now you must go home and stay with your family."
The man nodded as he got to his feet. "Be careful, sir," Hibachi said, "and once again, my thanks."
As Hibachi left the room, Lockheed texted his security and driver to be ready for a uniformed guest needing a drive home for 'sick leave'.
"Alright then," Mark Lockheed said, "Mark... I say that we get a little press conference going, and perhaps George would appreciate this little revelation about what our weak, turncoat of a president is doing with his contract."
"This is going to be interesting," Allen added as he began to write messages on his email to the needed contacts.
Glenn Inc., Fort Worth, Texas
"So... Matthews has been playing me and my company all this time," Glenn shook his head as he talked with Allen and Lockheed. His son and daughter-in-law were also in the call.
"I always had my misgivings about Matthews," Allen said, "and this is nothing short of definitive proof. Another swamp creature selling out to anti-Coordinator radicals, in our own corporate community no less."
Lockheed's eyes were hard as he shook his head. "We're besieged by hostile activists in the government, and now corporate executives," he sighed, "we're going to have to anticipate even more of this sort of thing and plan accordingly."
"No," George firmly replied.
"Dad?" Jeff questioned with a visible confused look on the screen.
"No more beating around the bush," George resolved, "if my detractors are going to use the government and corporate activists to abuse my people's good faith in such an egregious act of dishonesty, it's time to call them out for the cowards and crooks they truly are."
"Can someone tell me where this is going?" Andria asked aloud.
"If there is one language, I've learned that they will have to listen to," George explained, "it's lawsuits and days in court. I'm suing this government for damages."
"Dad, are you sure about this," Jeff asked, "spending all that time and money in a federal court?"
"I am sure, son," Glenn told him, "I'm not about to let President Matthews do this to me and millions of people wanting relief from this crisis, not after all we've worked for and sacrificed."
Jeff was a bit concerned, but he understood where his father was coming from. He gave a nod and a smile of encouragement.
George then told his two senator friends, "both of you, please do deliver this message to our president. If he wishes to dishonor his agreements with my company and play politics with the lives of patients to further a personal grudge against me and members of his own party, I will see his administration in court very soon."
"Count on it, George," Allen gave a thumbs up, "if he wants scandal, we'll give him one."
"Of course, we will," Senator Lockheed assured, "and this time, Matthews' treacherous career is now numbered. He'll have back stabbed us for the last time."
The Coordinator gave a smile. "I knew I could count on you guys."
"Don't mention it," Allen said with a jesting sarcasm, "just another day at the office in swampy paradise." The three men laughed at the joke.
Ramius Household, Virginia, Atlantic Federation
"I'm home!" A young girl came walking in her school uniform.
Murrue Ramius was overjoyed to be home, especially considering how she had the weekend free. She scampered through the house, just as the familiar shape of her father came in from another room. "Hey, how's my little girl?" he greeted heartily, kneeling to embrace her.
"Great and happy, Daddy," the nine-year old Murrue beamed.
"That's good to hear!" her father remarked. He then playfully lifted Murrue by the arms into the air. "Up ya go!" he joked, earning a giggle from her in response.
"Hello, honey," an older feminine voice called out from the family living room.
Murrue twisted in her father's arms as she saw her mother coming in. "Mama!" she chirped, waving an arm.
"How is my little angel from school?" Mrs. Ramius asked.
"Great!" Murrue exclaimed happily. Mr. and Mrs. Ramius laughed with their daughter.
Mr. Ramius then set Murrue down, and told her, "Your mother should have dinner ready soon. Why don't you go to your room and relax for a bit?"
The girl nodded. "Okay, Daddy!" she replied. With that, she grabbed her bookbag and scampered up the stairs.
Mr. Ramius watched his daughter race up to her room, before looking towards his wife. "Hela, can I talk with you alone for a bit?"
"Sure, Gary." Hela turned and followed her husband into the living room. The two sat down on the sofa. "What's wrong, hon?" Hela asked her husband.
"Nothing... well, I just want to confide something with you, Hela," Gary said.
"Okay. What is it?" Hela asked.
The veteran pilot took a deep breath, before turning the TV on to the channel he previously set it to. The news came on shortly after. It showed a CBN reporter outside of a courthouse in Fort Worth. "...here to cover the lawsuit concerning George Glenn and the recent events detailing the vaccine's delay in production," she said.
"In a statement from lawyers, George Glenn and his affiliated Glenn Health firm are accusing the AF government of hoarding and destroying supplies of pharmaceuticals produced by the company in violation of procurement tenders set forth by the government. The statement also further alleges that influence from anti-Coordinator interest groups and corporate rivals may have had undue bearing on the White House's failure to uphold the terms of the contract for the anti-S2 medicines and vaccines."
Hela's eyes went wide. "They've got to be joking..." she whispered.
"In related news, tensions between the Lockheed/Allen-led factions of the Constitutional Republicans and the establishment wing aligned with President Matthews are becoming more pronounced with the recent lawsuit that has shaken a national capital still reeling from the Allan Warren scandal. Glenn Inc. has refused to speak any further on the matter, but a few people close to Mr. Glenn have stated that he is willing to bring this to court, if only to get people the medical supplies that he promised would be developed and sold," the reporter went on, "in response to the accusations from Glenn Inc. and Senators Lockheed and Allen, the White House released a statement..."
The scene then shifted to show the White House, along with President Matthews's press secretary. The press secretary narrowed her eyes. "In light of these recent accusations, we have the following to say. It is most unfortunate that members of our own party in the Assembly have chosen to undermine the government's response to the S2 Crisis with ugly character attacks and accusations of bad faith towards the President. Furthermore, President Matthews wishes to express to Mr. Glenn that while he respects his past work and achievements, he is most disappointed with Mr. Glenn's lack of support in addressing the crisis at hand." She then flipped the page on the notes she was given, "these circumstances have been unfortunate, which brings me to my next statement. We will win against this frivolous lawsuit. During these trying times, we cannot be divided amongst one another."
It was then that a reporter from Hunter News spoke up, "excuse me, Press Secretary, but it was our understanding that you had a government contract specifically awarded to Glenn Health after a competitive bidding process. However, the reports our network got from Senators Lockheed, Allen, and members of the Senate Health and Labor Committee show verified communications from inside the administration indicating that the President personally overrode the contract to hire Glenn Health's larger competitors for cheaper drugs and vaccines, despite numerous complaints about their quality and safety. What is your response?"
The secretary looked to her. "It is disappointing that two of our most esteemed senators would make such unfounded accusations."
"Mrs. Secretary..." the Hunter News reporter tried to follow up, only for her to evade by calling on a United News reporter. "Your question?"
"Mrs. Secretary, what do you have to say in regard to the possible idea that Glenn is possibly using the lawsuit to discredit the government's emergency medical response? And what do you say to members of the public who say that an animus exists between President Matthews and Mr. Glenn and the lawsuit is the result?"
The secretary looked at the United News reporter. "I have nothing substantive on the supposed animus, but if that is so, then Mr. Glenn would clearly be in the wrong to allow such pettiness to color his response to the government's good will."
The whole Ramius family watched as the White House continued to respond. "Our government is working tirelessly to ensure that we find a cure and put an end to this pandemic, regardless of what some people think."
It was then that an AIN reporter spoke up. "Mrs. Secretary," he came on hard, "one of my colleagues just interviewed a group of doctors from the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota who conducted tests on the government vaccines and drugs upon request of Mr. Glenn's attorneys and that of the patients' families concerned..."
"Explain," the secretary gave the report a skeptical look.
"Certainly." The AIN reporter then began to speak. "Some of the drugs that were given to the patients have demonstrated a rather alarming side effect in that it causes extreme withdrawal pain when their families attempted to wean them off of it. The families also claim that the drugs administered by the government caused unusual instances of hyperactivity in the patients, some of them even becoming suddenly aggressive towards others around them. Is the President and the Surgeon General aware of this, and if so, what are their responses?"
The press secretary responded, "we have no comment at this time." The press secretary then concluded... "The President and the White House are only looking out for the country. We will get through this together. And we will prove in court that it is we who act in good faith despite Mr. Glenn's accusations on the contrary."
Gary Ramius watched as the press secretary quickly left the room with the AIN reporter shouting more questions after her, before the CBN ended its segment to a commercial break. He could only shake his head. Gary was watching the country roil itself with the partisanship over Coordinators, even as the S2 virus was devastating lives and the economy. And here he was, a mobile armor pilot resting from a long deployment from space as home was becoming more and more troubled.
"Gary," Hela said, "what are you making of this?"
Gary just shook his head. "Think about it, honey… and not too long after our senator just tried to get Glenn locked up," Gary added with a huff, "our society and government are tearing themselves at the seams, over hatred for this one man."
"I'm scared for us and Murrue every day," Hela said. Then she looked at her husband, who had a thoughtful look in his eyes.
"Murrue doesn't tell you this..." Hela began.
"Doesn't tell me what?" Gary wondered.
Hela shook her head. "Some of the other kids and teachers are awful..." she told him, "They are mean to her and her friends for liking George Glenn."
Now that caught Gary's attention, "what do they do?"
"They bully her, call her names... and some of the teachers even threaten to give her detention or fail her tests..." Hela paused, slightly choking up. "... and they even threaten to have friends they say are Blue Cosmos come to our house if she continues to like George Glenn and be friendly towards Coordinators.
Gary's eyes widened. "You're serious?" he asked. The way Hela nodded was enough proof. Her eyes were hard as she did so.
"Why didn't our little girl tell me?" Gary asked.
"I think she didn't want you to worry," Hela stated, but the way she spoke indicated she was also worried for their daughter. "She wants to be strong and brave like you, Gary."
While Gary was flattered, he still frowned at what he was hearing about his daughter's treatment at school…
The Ramiuses sat down for dinner about half an hour later... and Gary finally looked to his daughter. "Murrue honey, I'd like to ask you about school," he broached it.
The little girl glanced up nervously. "Uh..."
"You're not in trouble, honey. I just want to know so we can help," he assured her.
"Well, it's not that..." Murrue tried to deflect.
Gary shook his head. "What are they saying to you at school, honey?"
The girl hesitated for a few seconds, then finally looked to her father. The way he looked at her with concern finally got to her. She sniffled a little. "It's... it's horrible..." she whispered. "They call me all kinds of names... threaten me and... they won't let me pass my classes..." the eight-year-old continued. "All because I like having Coordinator friends... and that I look up to Mr. Glenn..."
Murrue looked at her dad with a mix of sadness and anger. "They call him a racist and a bigot, Dad, and say anyone who likes him is also a bigot and full of Coordinator pride and privilege."
Gary reached over and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Honey, that's not true. In no way is he a racist. And anyone who thinks otherwise are the ones who are the racists. You have every right to look up to him. But if they threaten you with failure all because of it... well..." He squeezed her shoulder reassuringly. "Then we'll have to do something about it.
"Those teachers and mean kids are the ones with problems," Hela reassured, "they have no right to force you or the others to hate Coordinators like they do."
"Your mother is right, honey. You are a brilliant, strong girl." Gary smiled at her. "Don't let them get to you. Their blind hatred of you and Coordinators is their problem, and you have every right to stand up to them. After all, you're a mobile armor pilot's daughter, and you don't take crud from bullies."
Murrue wiped at her eyes and smiled. "Yeah. You're right! I am tough! I can take it!"
"Now that's my girl," Gary lovingly rubbed Murrue's head. He then gave a resolute and knowing glance to Hela. She nodded back, smiling as well.
Gary then knew that he had a new direction in life, for his daughter and wife's sake.
Flaga Mansion, Calgary, Alberta
A young boy shifted as he glanced out the window of his home. His honey blond hair hung loosely around his face and his blue eyes held in them a bit of... shock... at who he had met some time back. His 'brother', so to speak. 'Daddy... who is that you brought home...' the boy, Mu La Flaga thought.
It was then that one of the butlers came into the room. "Master Mu, your father's calling for you," he spoke in a British accent.
"Coming," Mu said, standing up.
"I'll take you," the butler said with a gentle tone, but Mu could perceive that there was stress in his voice. The young boy followed the butler out into the hall of the grand estate.
The butler then held out his hand. "Take my hand."
"Why," Mu asked.
The butler just swallowed and exhaled. "No matter what, trust me, young man." The boy hesitated but did as he was asked.
The two walked to the private office where Senator Albert Da Flaga worked from home, but a maid stood at the door.
"Wait," the maid halted the two, "sorry, but it seems that the master's guest has arrived sooner than expected."
"Hm?" The butler looked to her, and then a loud voice exploded through the doors.
"YOU SAID RAU WAS A VIABLE SUBJECT!"
"Yes, I did," came the voice of a man Mu had heard several times before.
"How could you have missed such an important detail!? How am I supposed to have an heir now!?" To hear his dad rage behind the closed doors was frighteningly new for Mu. He had never seen, let alone heard this side of his dad before.
"There are others, Mr. La Flaga," Ulen Hibiki said in a calm voice, "if he does not survive, I have done my best, but unfortunately, given the samples you gave me were of your current genetic age, it makes sense that he would be of that same age genetically." The man then sighed. "It's one of the downsides of cloning, I'm afraid. We can do our best to prolong his life, but we are not infallible."
"Listen to me, Hibiki," Senator Da Flaga scolded. "If you cannot produce a perfect heir for me, you can kiss that funding for your Ultimate Coordinator project goodbye. I have a hard enough time concealing my support for your research from those other worthless fools in Washington as is, and I will not see my fortune and legacy in the hands of that woman's inferior child or some inferior copy of me!"
"I assure you, I shall do my utmost to provide the perfect heir," Hibiki said, although the slight waver of his tone indicated he was a bit terrified of the man.
"The sooner I have my perfect heir, the better I can start my other... ambitions... to rid the world of their insipid obsession with Glenn... no matter what it may take, or how long it may be," Senator Da Flaga growled lowly.
"I'm not surprised that you're envious of the man," Hibiki said.
"Hmm…" Da Flaga grunted to himself, not wanting to admit that. However, he did say, "I suspect that he has ambitions of his own. I just know it, his increased involvement in the social fray, the lawsuit against the government. He's flirting with politics, I can tell."
"You mean," Hibiki began...
"Yes," Da Flaga's voice grew darker, "and he's not one for half-steps and small prizes. He's going to want the presidency himself!"
Young Mu's eyes went wide as he listened in.
"I want someone in my bloodline worthy of that office, and that little brat, Mu, is too diluted with his mother's blood and weakness to represent the Flaga family's mantle."
"Then the stakes are clear," Hibiki said. "I shall provide you with the perfect heir."
"I should hope you do," Da Flaga spoke, "before I am forever saddled with that woman's child and failures like Rau."
The young boy blinked his eyes in disbelief. The butler and maid were also visibly unnerved by what they had heard inside. The three were frozen in fear, as though not knowing what to do.
It was then that Hibiki spoke... "I assure you that G.A.R.M. R&D has just begun working. There is nothing that we cannot solve once we have the Ultimate Coordinator. You may disagree with me on that front, but it's probably the most viable project to make your wishes come true."
"I had better hope so," da Flaga stated. "I'm funding this for you, but you have to fulfill your end or else I will pull all that funding."
"I promise that you will see true results, Senator. Whatever we produce will certainly be superior, even to Glenn himself."
Mu shivered… he could not listen to the creature that his father was sounding like anymore. He wanted to be anywhere but near his father and his office. The butler felt the young boy's trembling through his holding his hand.
The butler saw the fear in Mu's eyes… and felt disgust at his master for his flippant disdain for his own son and wife. He looked to his female colleague. "Master Mu is not feeling well. I shall take him back to his room and care for him." The maid just nodded silently in understanding, knowing what to tell Senator Da Flaga if he still desired to haul Mu in. With that, the kind butler gently walked Mu back to the safety of his room, away from the office of Al Da Flaga.
However, little did any of them know that a certain clone of Al Da Flaga overheard the whole outburst from his hiding place down the hall, and began hyperventilating with a growing disbelief and anger…
End Chapter 10