Chapter 346

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When Eve came to work on Friday May 16th people were rushing about, talking rapidly. From what Eve could gather general Gardner had murdered his mistress, ms Wynter. The Ravenwood weapons she'd stolen for him during the war were now up for grabs. There seemed to be some disagreement over exactly what happenned. Some said major Cox murdered her rival out of jealousy, or possibly because Wynter was secretly allied with Mason. One rumor said Gardenr shot ms Wynter, then, as she was dying, handed her a pistol with one bullet so she could at least have the dignity of ending her own life. It was also rumored that Mason was protecting Cox, who was also helping sieze the weapons. Eve began to wonder, had ms Wynter really been allied with Mason, or had he tried to recruit her and failed. Or maybe, she was always loyal to general Gardner. Perhaps Mason had told Eve this, hoping she was an informant for Gardner and could give him false intel. Eve knew she had never spoken to Gardner, but there could've been other informants. Today marked exactly 65 days untilimpact. With so little time left, maybe it didn't matter how ms Wynter died, or if Mason manipulated Eve. But this deception did make Eve angry. After her work was done for the day she asked to see the president. His secretary said he was in a meeting. Eve waited outside the oval office. It might take several hours, but she'd wait. It ended up being less than one hour before the meeting ended, and Eve was allowed to talk with president Mason.

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Mason: What was it you wanted to talk about Eve?

Eve: I was just wondering, about ms Wynter. Was she an informant for you or something?

Mason: No. She was always more loyal to Gardner than to the government beginning during the war. He promised to make her the first lady of an Ark, maybe he would've kept his word.

Eve: But you made sure he didn't trust her, that he murdered her.

Mason: Yes. We eliminated his ally, and iezed some Ravenwood weapons. Even if opportunists just take the weapons and flee, at least they are no longer being used in the coup.

Eve: When you told me you were expecting a call from ms Wynter, you wanted me to tell Gardner, except I didn't.

Mason: I believe you, but I also told others. Some double agents, some people I suspect of being his informants.

Eve: I understand why you did it, I just hate being manipulated.

Mason: Fair enough. Ask me anything, I'll tell you the truth. Anything short of specific military secrets. But I can't promise that you'll like the answers. And once you know, there's no going back.

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Eve was shocked by this offer. All the time she'd admired George Mason, all the time she'd hated him. Eve had never expected this opportunity to ask questions and recieve such honest answers. She hardly knew where to begin.

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Eve: Is it true you were concieved by a combination genetic engineering and dark magick?

Mason: I don't remember that far back. But as I understand the point of genetic engineering would've been to make me exceptionally strong, smart, handsome. I cana ssure you I've never been exceptional at any of those. My father expected great things of me. If I were destined to become the anti-christ I'm sure he would've mentioned it.

Eve: Is it true your wife and son were ever engaged in a sexual relationship?

Mason: My wife and I have both engaged in extra-marital affairs, and my son seems to have an open marriage with Zoey. But I prefer to think they have their limits.

Eve: Did you daughter Mimi conspire to have Aron Pierce assasinate you?

Mason: Yes.

Eve: Really? I always assumed that was a myth.

Mason: I was clear that my family would have no more lottery chances than any citizen, my way of trying to calm the public. Mimi was upset that I wouldn't guarantee shelter to her daughter Rebecca. She hoped that if vice-president Allen became president she would take Rebecca into the Arks.

Eve: But you never had Mimi arrested or anything?

Mason: She and her daughter already had a death sentance, and I forgave her. Jed was actually angrier than I was at his sister.

Eve: Wow. Did you order the plague unleashed?

Mason: Yes. The first release was an accident, but the others were on me and Douglas. He didn't believe I accidentally killed that many of your countrymen, so he retaliated, and then I retaliated. I had to stop the rebellion, without risking damage to the Arks.

Eve: When did you first know about ELE?

Mason: Since I was first elected. My predecessor, president Rubio, told me this during our first transition meeting. We tried developing ways to divert or destroy the asteroid. We set Febuary 2033 as the revelation date because it would provide enough time to build the Arks, but hopefully little time to panic. Our hope was that society would continue. That plan seems to have failed, but I like to think we minimized the damage.

Eve: You call this "Minimal?"

Mason: Compared to what it could've been, absolutely.

Eve: Was there ever a chance to stop ELE?

Mason: I don't know. Those missles were always a long-shot. And after they failed, there was no way to drill into the asteroid's hard surface. I've had to take drastic measures, I didn't like it. You've lost much, so have many others. Lincoln did what he had to do to preserve this country and end slavery. I did what was neccessary to ensure the survival of the human race.

Eve: I remember reading that Abraham Lincoln was your hero. But sometimes you act more like Joseph Stalin.

Mason: Stalin won the war.