Chp. 12: Complication

October 24. 2049

Downtown Al-Faziz

The kiss was quick and innocent...at first. As Jed pulled away, Annie moved towards him and pulled their lips back together. She wanted it to last longer than the few seconds he'd made it. He resisted for a second in surprise, and then pulled her into his arms. Annie slid her arms up and around his neck and she pulled him into an even deeper kiss. Something wonderful was happening, in Annie's opinion. Something very, VERY wonderful. Where the night might go from here was all up to fate. Fate, romance...maybe breakfast. This man was something else; She couldn't hear the voice in her head until it was screaming.

Hit the brakes, Anjali! HIT THE BLEEDING BRAKES, WOMAN!

Reality came punching through the rosy veil like a raging bull. She was feeling up her wingman, and letting him see a side of her she didn't like others seeing. In a flash Annie's entire body seized up. She pulled back and stared at Jed like she was going into shock. He looked at her, concern growing on his face.

"Annie, what's wrong?" He asked.

"No, no…. No no no we shouldn't be doing this." She stammered. She pulled away and backed up against the wall.

"Annie, talk to me." He insisted, fear evident in his voice.

She just stared back at him, wanting to run. Get out, get away, get herself reorganized. But Jed looked scared, she thought, terrified. Annie opened her mouth to talk, but had to give it a few tries before she was able to say anything.

"I'm sorry Jed I...listen I think I should go back to Sanjay's. I've had too much to drink." She said, managing to compose herself for a minute.

What'd he done wrong? His mind raced back over everything he'd done, said...what? Why was she doing this? His expression remained unchanged. She nodded at him awkwardly in farewell and turned.

"Wait Annie!" He blurted out. She stopped pensively and looked back at him.

"Please...at least let me walk y'all back to yer brother's."

Annie bit her lower lip, but nodded.

"...Okay, thank you Bronco." She replied. That hurt even more.

The two said nothing to each other on the walk back to Sanjay's place. All the magic and all the sparks that'd built up and been felt were gone. Jed was stoic, too focused on running back over where he might've messed up with her. As if teleported, he suddenly found himself with her in front of the apartment complex. He still didn't know what'd gone wrong, but he felt the need to apologize anyways.

"Ah'm sorry if it was my fault and all." He muttered, sticking his hands in his pockets. She tilted her head at him and then sighed.

"Thank you for escorting me home, Leftenant." She said as she fished out the key Sanjay had given her.

"Least Ah could do." He replied.

For a second Jed wanted to ask her what he'd done, but she was already passing through the doors inside. He watched her go, debated following her, and then simply turned away. It was a long walk back to the only place he could think to go, but at least there he could get blitzed out of his mind. It was getting crowded with a bunch of would-be relationships and shining a bad light on the few that'd lasted. Dammit he was tired of this, so why was it worth even trying anymore? It was a cruel, cruel joke that he remained obligated to see her and talk to her until her exchange tour was up. The thought of asking for a change in things only embarrassed him. It also meant he'd have to admit that he...well, something about her still stirred in him. Jed stopped near a street corner and crossed his arms to keep them from balling into fists. He felt mad because it seemed like some big, cosmic joke was being played on him. And he couldn't figure out what made him angrier: that he'd been slapped in the face like that or because he still had some hope when it was obvious hope was a dead concept now. Love was a dead concept, and there was no comfort in sight.

Jed walked each step back to the hotel daring something else to happen. An attempted mugging, someone nearly running him over, or anything that would let him channel his fury and resentment into violent force. Something he could rain down blows on and get away without much in the way of consequences. The world had been pushing him around enough that he wanted to strike revenge against it. He kept his hands jammed in his pockets and his teeth were clenched so hard they might break under the pressure. As it rose, he stuffed it down in an attempt to get the better of it. Revenge was almost too tempting, though. It was probably no small miracle that he got back to the hotel without punching someone's lights out. He made it to the lobby bar, faking a smile anytime he saw someone who looked like they might be from the ship, and found a little place in the corner where he could liquor up some more. He went for straight Jack Daniels this time.

He wanted to peg Annie as a flaky bitch, maybe even toss her into the same category as Carissa and Nance. Everytime he did, he just drank some more before the thoughts could shake him up too much. Then he went back to square one: Desire to vilify her, attempt to reason why, shot of JD, rinse and repeat. Before he knew it he was cut off and left to simmer. It didn't take long for the Hilton to lose its appeal after that. Too many familiar faces, too much pressure to keep up the facade, and no booze to cover up the hurt. He put every ounce of willpower into standing up and walking to the hotel doors. He thought he heard his name a few times, but it was too distant to be sure. He just wanted to get out of there, and he didn't care where he ended up. The smell of the late-night sea breeze drew him back to the beach. Despite his barely there grasp of where he was, the allure of the midnight ocean drew him to a piece of sand. He sat down and stared into the distance as anger turned to unrelenting pain. Nance's head was back in his voice.

"Listen you stupid hick-"

"Shut up!" He roared.

The man grabbed a handful of sand and flung it towards the water, roaring "Shut up!" between a plethora of impolite words and descriptions. He threw sand and barked until he stumbled forward and face planted once more. Back where he'd started that morning. He sat up and covered his face with his palms until he couldn't hold back his emotions any longer.

"What did Ah do wrong?" He whimpered from behind streams of tears.

Annie, meanwhile, kept herself together until she was back inside the apartment. She collapsed on her bed, halfway out of her dress, and felt waves of regret overwhelming her. She couldn't even push through to what had caused her to hide from it. Reflex, maybe...but to protect against what? What danger did Jed pose? Because she might as well have ripped out his heart and stomped it into the sidewalk.

The worst part was she'd seen it written all over his face. He'd been enamored by her, awoken to her being something more than his wingwoman. The woman angrily slammed her fists against the sheets and mattress. You broke his fucking heart right in front of him, Anjali! You knew how badly he wanted real love and you broke his fucking heart! What at first sounded like low, animalistic growls behind barred teeth turned into choked-back sobs. She pressed her palms into her eyes and tried to fight back the waterworks.

"J-Jed, I love...love you…" She sniffled.

"I'm sorry Jed, I'm sorry!" She cried out at the ceiling.

Annie, on a whim, pried herself from the dress and nearly fell off the bed. She grabbed her robe and covered herself up before running to the window and pulling it open. Looking down with the vain hope he was still there, waiting, she searched the street for the tall Osean. As part of her had expected, he wasn't there. She still wanted him to come back. Like the stubborn, sometimes spoiled, princess she was, she wanted something and she didn't care if someone said no. She wanted it, dammit! Her emotions went back and forth from anger at everything under the sun to wanting to go back half an hour and stop herself from fucking things up. Just half an hour, she thought? That wasn't much to ask. She closed her eyes and hoped when she opened them she'd be back in that alley. Every time she did, she was still in her room.

Hysterics gave way to quiet depression once she'd wasted so much energy bawling. When she got her sobs under control, Annie sat down on the nook next to her window, still hoping she'd see him again. She called to her phone and had it turn on some music. She didn't even bother to specify what she wanted, or change the song when the opening notes reached her ears. Annie closed her eyes and leaned her head back. She felt like she was becoming weightless as she opened her mouth and whispered along with the lyrics.

"And when I looked into your eyes I couldn't help but see you knew it too...Where your heart was sure to go...Doooon't deny...We could fiiind a place where…We...belong…"

She was quick to stop giving the tears messing up her makeup the time of day. She just sang, even when her voice trembled. She considered going back out and talking to him...if he was still out there somewhere. Her best bet lay in going to the Hilton, but she wouldn't be caught there. Not for that reason, and not when lying would be too painful to do. She needed to get her mind in the right place, her words put together and make sure that when she apologized she mended his heart. You're going to have to confess, Anjali, she told herself, and you just might have to accept...she stopped herself there. No, no pessimism; she'd find a way. Jed's heart had been broken too many times and she was going to stop that.

Annie decided that she'd rest, let emotions stabilize and a clearer state of mind prevail. Annie changed her musical selection to something more relaxing and quietly slipped into bed. She got under as many sheets as was comfortable and grabbed one of the pillows. With a blush, she nestled her head against it and pretended it was the young man she wanted to comfort.

"Jed, please be okay." She whispered…

Nikula adjusted his tie as he sat down in front of the massive Erusean flag and cleared his throat. Two-dozen crewmembers from Channel 8 hurried about to get through last minute affairs before they started broadcasting. The King let his presence motivate them while he examined the statement he had one final time. Gummadi was on a screen to his left, standing before Sotoa's parliament in New Mani as their last-minute meeting came to order.

"Good evening to both the members of parliament and all of those watching, both in Sotoa and Erusea. I have called this meeting in order to read my part of a joint declaration with King Nikula the 17th of Erusea. To my colleagues in parliament I thank you for your support and to those I address beyond these chambers I thank you for lending an ear to what I have to say." He began, nodding to those around him.

"This evening, the Republic of Sotoa wishes to issue a joint statement with the Imperium of Erusea condemning foreign influence in the Republic of Chakari, as well as a rebuff of accusations made by the Eastern Usean countries that Erusea is mounting a campaign of "pseudo-conquest" through its alliance with our country. The Erusean-Sotoan Defense Pact was and remains a mutually beneficial agreement. It in no way influences Sotoan domestic politics and has, from the start, been built upon the foreign policy goals both our nations share. Through this agreement Sotoa has seen an exchange in technology that allows for it to better its defenses. Technology that also extends beyond defense. Just as we have established our defense pact, Sotoa and Erusea have also seen a healthy amount of economic exchange, and Erusea's growing economic needs have opened up welcome investments in our nation's infrastructure. The Ministry of Labour reports that unemployment is now below the average level seen over the past five years. The comparison to the Lenish rule over a century ago is like night and day!"

He scoffed and managed to elicit a small round of applause from some parts of parliament, mostly members of the Coalition Party and its allies.

"Therefore we hold our distrust for our opponents especially close in these times. We ask Chakari, who has long been separated from her greater homeland, to expel these poisonous influences and look closer to home. I call upon President Chandani to consider the implications of allowing such foreign involvement in his country. The implications of the arms buildup he has overseen and its threat to peace. Such a warlike stance should not be tolerated by any nation, big or small, against any neighbor."

He paused for dramatic effect; Nikula looked at his broadcast's producer motioned they were all set to go when the Sotoan leader finished his speech.

"President Chandani, it is my hope that you will lend an ear to peace and unity rather than submitting to the outside influences who care only for their own ambitions. I hope you will turn to such an option before you are made a puppet and your nation becomes nothing more than a tool to wage war against those who criticize it."

Everyone in Parliament's chambers applauded this time, and even Nikula had to give a quick round for the man. He looked towards the camera centered on him and set his own speech between his hands. His image was broadcast to just about every TV, computer and phone screen in both his nation as well as Sotoa as Gummadi walked away from his podium.

"Good evening, citizens of both the Imperium and citizens of Sotoa. I come to you at this hour to voice my support for Prime Minister Gummadi's statement. I also wish to reaffirm the Erusean crown's position as its ally and its duty to the Erusean people. Since my ascension to power in 2021, the country has flourished. Erusean identity is strong and the rule of law has created a strong peace within our borders. What other power can claim such achievements? What other power can claim any greater state of affairs?"

He applied a dramatic pause to drive home his point.

"None; Erusea sets the benchmark for an ideal society. She also sees parallels to her past in Sotoa's quest to grow, to gather strength for her people. To shrug off the second-nation status imposed upon her by those who once dared to call themselves colonial powers. To end a decades-long order that has only brought death and oppression. The Osean Federation, Kingdom of Lenshire, as well as their allies have exploited the world for decades, and have oppressed and humiliated the Erusean people for decades. Our rise to the world stage and our friendship with the Republic of Sotoa has been characterized by these nations as a power grab. Meanwhile, they use countries such as Chakari as a means to strike at us without having to dirty their hands. Pawns to be sacrificed."

He sneered in disgust at the idea and set aside his notes. The man intertwined his fingers and looked at the camera as if he were talking to another human being.

"Our adversaries will likely ask how what Erusea has created with Sotoa, these pacts and exchanges, is any different than what they have done. My response to that is simple: this is a response to their aggression. They play a dangerous game with a nation whom they assume will simply bow. I tell them that this is not the Erusea they so viciously mutilated in 2005 or whom they flooded with refugees in 2000. This Erusea has reclaimed its identity as a nation and as a people. It has rediscovered the values that make it a strong nation, and its place in the history of the world. Like our ally Sotoa we shall pursue the path of peace, but I will also strongly reaffirm that we will NOT cower before the nations who have bullied us for so long. The Erusean people have suffered long enough! Foreign aggression will not stand!"

He drew in a deep breath after his volume went up a few notches, then bowed his head.

"Thank you all for your time...and to our brave members of the armed forces in Sotoa, I thank you once again for your sacrifices and your dedication. Long live the Imperium, long live unity, and long live Sotoa!"

He didn't have to imagine the applause or the sense of agreement. Nor did he have to imagine who might be alarmed by his declaration and that of Prime Minister Gummadi's. A complex in the rural areas of Eastern Osea had plenty of people who were worried. Two young intelligence analysts watching the broadcast exchanged looks before one rolled back to his desk and grabbed his phone. He hit one of the numbers on his contacts screen and eyed the TV once more. The other end of the line only rang twice before someone picked up.

"Deputy Director of Intelligence's office." A woman's voice replied.

"Mina, it's Stefan over at CCAG, is the Director in? It's about the speech." He replied.

"One moment...no, sorry. He's not available; he's in a meeting with the director of the DSS."

"Dammit, alright, tell him to call me as soon as he can. I think we've got a situation developing."