Chapter 9

A chubby figure in high heels walked briskly towards an elevator. With her are four guards, each armed to the teeth. They were the only ones inside the elevator that will take them towards the floor where the Minister is situated. The elevator doors opened and all of them walked out. The hushed voices from those people working in their posts are the only noise that can be heard.

The group approached a door and the only one who went in is the chubby figure in high heels. The door closed and the four guards stood outside the door.

Inside, she approached a figure seated in a chair, reading a book. "Minister." She called softly. "I have the results."

The Minister looked up from the book she is reading. She smiled and squared her shoulders. "Let me have it please." She put down her book and reached for the folder offered to her. "Please instruct everyone not to disturb me." She looked up when she instructed her secretary. "Also call Lady Une, tell her to call me."

"Yes ma'am." Her secretary acknowledged her command. "Can I have a break afterwards?" She asked impishly.

"Michelle, you know it hurts me to see you famished." The Minister told her smiling. "Here." She stood up and went to her mini kitchen and grabbed a bag. "I already addressed your concern. I prepared this for you."

Michelle smiled widely and took the bag from her. "Thanks! That will be all?"

"Yes, that is all."

"I'm going now." Michelle turned in her heels and went out carrying her treat.

The Minister went back to her seat. She placed the folder in front of her and stared at it for a long time.

Finally, she thought. I am going back home. She closed her eyes and sighed deeply. She placed her hands in the document and smoothen it. I hope the person I'm really vying to win will be the one to make it. She suddenly felt tense and she took a deep sigh to control her nerves. She shook her head and finally decided to open the document. She read its content for quiet some time before closing it with a satisfied smile stamped on her face.

She leaned back and closed her eyes. For a long while she just sat there contemplating. The phone on her desk rang. She let it rang twice before picking it up. "Minister Blythe speaking." She said.

"Minister this is Lady Une." Lady Une's voice emitted from the receiver. "I was advised to call you."

"Yes Commander." She paused for a while. "Please advise the counting team to secure the data they've gathered. No information must leak to the press this evening 'til tomorrow afternoon. I will be announcing the newly elected Minister tomorrow at four in the afternoon." She paused to scribble something in a pad of paper. "Secure the hall during the turn over ceremony after the announcement. I will instruct my aide to send you a copy of the guests. Any questions?"

"How about during the press release?" Lady Une asked.

"I'm thinking of a closed press release conference." The Minister answered. "That way, we can control the onslaught of reporters coming in. I will also include a copy of those reporters who will be attending the conference. The ceremony must be televised live to Earth, moon and the colonies. Anything else?"

"Everything will be ready tomorrow before four in the afternoon." Lady Une acknowledged.

"Thank you. Goodbye." Minister Blythe ended the call and stood up. She went towards the kitchen and poured herself a cup of milk. She drank it with enthusiasm and went back to her desk. She pressed the intercom button in her phone. "Michelle, I have an errand for you."

"I will be there." Michelle responded.

She waited a few moments when her office door opened. Michelle came in with a pen and paper. "Sit down Michi." She instructed her with a smile.

"Thanks Raje." Michelle took a seat and poised to ready herself for the instructions "Ready." She smiled at her boss, expecting.

"Prepare an invitation to all guests during the turn over ceremony as well as invitation to all reporters we only need during the press conference." She looked at Michelle and noticed that her aide is so intent in writing down all her instructions. "Here are the names you will send the invitations." She handed the list to her aide. "This must be sent to everyone by the end of this day. Also send a copy of the list to the commander. That will be all."

Michelle's hand flew from taking notes. "That will be all?" She asked when she finished.

"That will be all." Raisa Jenell Blythe, leaned back in her chair. "Thanks."

"Your welcome." Michelle stood up smiling and walked out from the room. Before it closed, the Minister heard her instructing someone to deliver a sandwich and lots of soda. She smiled.

Lady Une placed the phone back to its cradle after the call ended. She pressed a button and her secretary came in. "Advise Heero Yuy, Wufei Chang, Trowa Barton, Duo Maxwell, Milliardo Peacecraft and Lucrezia Noin to come here." She ordered. "Also, advise someone to prepare something to eat."

Her secretary went out to do her bidding. She busied herself in organizing her desk. She placed her documents out of the way and removed her pens and pencils from the table. She placed these, in her drawer. Duo is making a habit of breaking her pencils to pass the time. It did not take her long to wait, when those she advised to come are entering one by one.

They each took a seat with Milliardo and Lucrezia seated in the chairs in the front of her desk. The rest occupied the seats beside Milliardo and Lucrezia.

"I was instructed by the Minister to secure the votes gathered." She informed. "She will be having a press conference by tomorrow afternoon at four. After the conference is the turn over ceremony. She instructed to secure the hall for this event. The ceremony must be televised live." She looked up from her notes. "Clear?"

"Crystal." Duo piped in, smiling. "At last, it will be almost over."

"Do we have to worry about the number of guests?" Trowa asked.

"No need." The commander replied. "She will be sending me a list. Hopefully she will send it by the end of this day."

"The press room and the hall must be ready before four tomorrow afternoon." Milliardo said.

"We must also check the equipments that will be brought by reporters. They must be searched for bugs and bombs." Heero stated.

"Agreed." Wufei said. "We must also advise the police unit to stay alert."

"I'm glad that a PREVENTER police unit was formed." Lucrezia stated. "It made crowd control a little easier to our personnel."

"It helped us focus to the more serious aspects of our job." Trowa stated.

"Amen to that." Duo agreed. The door opened, Lady Une's secretary wheeled in a tray of sandwiches and soda.

"Thank you Miss Devon. Please leave it over here." She directed her secretary. Duo caught her eye and winked. The secretary blushed and smiled. She hastily went out from the room after discreetly glancing at Duo.

"Duo you completely embarrassed her." Wufei told his friend.

"I did not." Duo said indignantly. "Hand me those sandwiches Noin, please?" He asked her.

Lucrezia handed him a sandwich and a soda. She served the whole content of the tray to her friends. When the tray is empty Trowa offered to wheel it out of their way.

"We have to delegate jobs for this event." Milliardo stated. "I want to handle the press conference."

"I will take charge of communications, video and the works." Lucrezia volunteered.

"That leaves security." Heero said. "We will divide it amongst ourselves." He inclined his head towards his three comrades.

Wufei, Duo and Trowa nodded their heads.

"Very well." Lady Une responded. "We have a busy schedule ahead of us. You're all dismissed." She ordered.

The occupants of the room stood up and saluted. She returned the salute and they all piled out of her room.