Chapter 192

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After they made the video Lee drove Eve home. Less than two weeks until election day. If the people supported seccession the legislature would vote on it as well. Then, likely, the Brotherhood would have to carry out their threat. Eve had until then to figure a way out of this. When they got home Amy was waiting outside, in tears. Eve figured it was about her parents and went to comfort her.

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Amy: Where the hell were you?

Eve: At a Brotherhood meeting. I'm sorry, it was a last minute thing.

Amy: Miguel's gone. I think he's been arrested, but I was too worried to call the police. I was worried something happenned to you.

Eve: I'm fine, and I'll try to find out about Miguel.

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On Friday October 27th Eve hoped that Miguel had returned home, but no. She thought, where could he be? He mostly stayed at home, occassionally went out to run errands or talk with friends, always back by 6pm. He seemed like a harmless old man, a little surely perhaps, but still harmless. Selena still hung around the house, even she seemed worried about Miguel. These were dangerous times. A vendor had been selling both collective and Republic of Texas flags. A youg couple had asked to buy a collective flag. When he sold it they murdered him and burned his shop to the ground. Evidently they were fanatically devoted to the Republic of Texas. Would someone harm a defenseless old man for being an avowed loyalist? Evidence seemed to indicate that they had.

By Saturday October 28th 2034 Miguel still hadn't returned home. Eve became nervous, even Lee seemed saddenned by this. He may have been grumpy, and talked endlessly about being a marine, but they'd known him. Eve went to see Ranger Burkle in private.

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Burkle: I've checked on your housemate, Miguel Sanchez was arrested.

Eve: For what, having unpopular views?

Burkle; He was a spy. Using an illegal cellphone to relay intel to the United States.

Eve: He was just talking to his son.

Burkle: His son died March 6th, killed by the bomb. Miguel Sanchez was using his dead son's name to betray Texas. Truth is, you helped with that.

Eve: How?

Burkle: You confirmed he had an illegal cellphone. We had no proof, until I tricked you. Once we knew we searched his house, found the phone, and retrieved his calls.

Eve: Where is he? If its my fault he's been arrested, I want to apologize.

Burkle: I'm afraid that's not possible. We don't have the resources for long-term prisons. We couldn't let him go betray us again, and with his age, he couldn't do physical labor anyway.

Eve: What did you do to my friend?

Burkle: You have a funny way of defining friendship. To answer your question, Miguel Sanchez has been executed.

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The news of Miguel's death hit Eve hard, particularly that she might've had something to do with it.

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Eve: How could you do that? He was just a harmless old man.

Burkle: We did what we had to do to protect Texas. And your anger is a little hard to swallow, given your situation.

Eve: What does that mean?

Burkle: You're a murderer, a sociopath. You just adapt, and deal with whoever can help you the most. Christian, muslim, United States, Collective States, Republic of Texas, Ravenwood, Sons of Liberty, Brotherhood of the Wolf, gay, straight. You use whoever you need and betray them when you need to. If you become an informant again you have a chance of surviving. So, just be the cute little sociopath I know you are and stop pretending that you care about others.