+5+
For Godsakes, they were in both in my fucking ears.
I turned down the volume on the AudioBug in my ear. The damn thing picked up every fucking sound within 100 feet of me. I blocked that shit out and
focused on the flat screen TV stationed above my head in the corridor of the
Capitol building. It was so quiet I could hear a pin drop.
On the TV I saw Paris Prince smiling genuinely at the camera. He was in a split screen with a determined and seasoned American news anchor to his right. His jet black hair was neatly combed, his facial features perfectly pronounced on top of his pale skin. The ugly jagged scars on his cheeks were damn distracting in HD.
It was 9 am, so I hoped they’d keep the interview light. I began reading the captions.
“Now”, the reporter asked, “I know we don’t have much time but as we get closer to the vote for New Aetenra’s independence, what is your response to the criticism presented by Unification Party leader, Bart Giuliani ?
He smiled that broken smile.
“These issues have been addressed again and again. Some criticize the measures taken by me and my party three years ago during the revolution. We have accounted for our actions and are ready for a new beginning. “
“Even’’, the reporter continued, “With claims of vandalism, property damage and emotional distress many citizens encountered during the night of the revolution.”
His eyes got serious, but light.
“For ten years Helios Thantos subjected the good people of New Aeterna to torture, poverty and stripped their freedoms. He was a harsh ruthless dictator and we knew going in that taking him down wouldn’t be easy. I apologize for any distress it may have caused, but I assure you it was and has shown to be for the greater good.
The truth is New Aetenra is no longer New York City. The Helion regime tore the city down and ripped apart lives. 65% of New Aeterna citizens have been at one time imprisoned and tortured. A fate My wife and even myself have suffered. Whatever fears and concerns the people have for the future . . .I have them too.”
The anchor shifted. He’d gone a bit off topic.
“Mr. Prince If the U.S Congress votes to grant New Aterna Independence and allows the installation of a monarchy . . .what can people expect as the new normal ?”
Paris smiled and sat up in the chair, all that time in D.C had groomed him.“First and foremost freedom and safety. We have built secure borders, a world-class military and booming economy. New Aeterna will always work in tandem with the United States. No one will ever feel trapped again. New Aeterna’s greatest exports will be art, culture and design. This year we expect our tourism to exceed that of NYC. In a word, Robin, people can expect. . . Paradise.”
“Yes, but will New Aeterna become a rich nation for the elite ? A Dubai or Monaco ?”
“By no means. Helios oppressive regime left the people of
New Aeterna poor. We’ve worked to build industries and create a bursting middle
class. We’ve installed rent control and.
. .
Fuck, that bastard could charm the world. The AudioBug in my ear began to buzz and I could hear Seraphina clearing her throat in the auditorium behind me. I pressed myself against the closed oak door to get better reception.
Her on the other hand.
“Corporal Grigori.”
On the other side of the oak door, the entire congressional committee was conducting their last interview with Seraphina . It was her first time being interviewed alone and with 85 congress members and experts watching her, she was all nerves.
“Yes”, Seraphin’a voice was cold. That was no good.
U.S Admiral Kyle Marshall was speaking.
“You were held as a threat to our nation at Guantanamo bay from 2013-2018 when you escaped U. S custody. In 2019 and 2021 you were suspected of being involved in several Anti-Military hate crimes. Accusations of which you of course have been pardoned of-“
“I—“
“Furthermore prior to the
Helion Regime, we have intelligence to support that in 2013 you knowingly and
willing aided and abeded with Helios Thantos . Now ma’am how do we know that if
congress installs your husband in a position of power that you won’t’ turn and
attack the US ?"
“I—“
We’d been prepared for this. Senator Donovan had slipped us the questions. All she had to do was remember the answers we practiced.
She cleared her throat.
“Sir, I understand my detainment at Guantanamo Bay was a necessary precaution in the face of the Helion Regime. I understand my cruel and unusual treatment from 2013-2018 was a result of individual lack of judgment and not the United States of America or U.S military as a whole. I understand my detainment was for the greater good and safety of the United States of America.
While I escaped custody I did not escape U.S custody. At the time of my escape I was officially a prisoner of the New Aeterna Detention Program. Therefore I escaped New Aeterna custody under the regime of Helios Thantos.
Furthermore my association with Helios Thantos prior to the siege was a naive choice, that lead to a controlling and emotionally abusive relationship I could not escape. The United States is a strong and great country. A country kept me safe and it would be an honor to wake up every morning in my own country and see the United States as my neighbors. A shining example of how great New Aeterna can be.”
Keep going, Sera.
“Par—my husband’s ability as a leader has been well earned. I can attest that despite the---“
Shit. She stumbled. Keep going. Make them a little uncomfortable“Despite the. . .despite the torture I endued in U.S detainment Par—my husband’s compassion and patience has helped me to trust and connect again both mentally and physically.”
Hot damn, she had a good memory.
I heard some uncomfortable shifting. Good. She was reminding them of the horrific details of her detainment, something public officals would do anything to keep under wraps. I heard a glass fall over, and a woman on the board say “oops.”
Shit
Sera must have knocked a glass over. Some people laughed. At least it humanized her.
“Mrs. Grigori”, another voice. Shit was that her therapist.
“As a result of the trauma you faced you’ve had a past of
being vindictive, anxious, impulsive and highly aggressive when it comes to
decision making. A reason you site for why you gave up your child. How do you
deal with this aggression? And is this something we should want in the wife of a man in a place of power ?
Silence
Silence
Shit shit shit.
That question hadn’t been in the questionnaire documents Senator Donovan had smuggled out for us. Fuck you Donovan.
On the TV screen Paris pauses too. He’d heard it too on his AudioBug.
“A-aggression ?”, Sera stutters
“Yes”
“I…I mange by…I do yoga and. . . “
I don’t pray, but for the first time I pray she doesn’t mention shooting, kickboxing, masturbating, weightlifting or fighting.
“. . . I . . . Zumba ?”“Zumba ?”, the therapist repeats.
On the TV the Prince smiles and holds back a laugh. Which just charms the anchor.
“Okay, Mrs. Grigori”, Senator Whitman says, “I think we’ve finished. Thank you.”
“Thank you."
I turned back to the TV screen where the anchor is wrapping up Paris’ interview. The news cut a to commercial and the door to my right burst open. The Prince walked out while a media assistant takes off the mic he’d forgotten about.
“Did you hear that? Did you fucking hear that?” Paris asked, “Donovan didn’t leak us the last question.”
“I don’t think he knew about it.”, I took out my AudioBug and he took out his.
“She fucked this up.”, Paris said, “They don’t trust her. I’m going to lose New Aterna”
“Boss, You can’t pass off your morally unhinged wife as New Aeterna’s next gentle queen to a room full of experts.”
“I know—“
“Besides. . . I thought we were good. I thought we had this handled .”
“According to Senator Donovan there are a few people he can’t even blackmail. That’s okay I have a back up plan.”
The double doors to the auditorium swung open. I got a peek of the auditorium rows filled with the congressional committee and advisors; senators, judges, psychiatrics, anthropologist, urban planners and activist.
My own interview had been quick and to the point. My NADF Captain’s uniform had felt tight and uncomfortable under their harsh judgement.
I hide the AudioBugs in my pocket where Seraphina wouldn’t see. Her full skirt beige crinoline skirt swished as she strode over to us, the reserved suit jacket restricting her shoulders. Her hair extensions had been worked into an impressive and conservative up do. Her New Aeterna Pin was so shiny it was blinding. Her makeup was so thick I could smell it, I just barley recognized her.
“How did it go”, The Prince said smiling and reaching his hand out for her.
She walked past him and to a water fountain, taking a long drink.
She turned back down the hall and sat in one of the distressed benches. Her expression was strict and stoic. In that moment she was the cold, distant and enduring beauty the world---hell even her own husband---saw her as.
“Do you need anything.” The Prince said to her, “You probably want some coffee. Leon and I will grab you some, Cupcake.”
“No.”, she said
“I want to-”
“I said--
I didn’t hear the rest because Paris shuffled me down
the corridor and out the Capitol building. Even though the Capitol was built a
year ago, the inside was baroque with a fake antique gleam. It looked
like it’d been around for decades.
The Capitol building was the center of the temporary
government office park, New Aeterna City Center, the government had been
installed by the U.S but Paris had worked his way into the machine so much
that he practically owned it. If he was made King he'd have power over the GDP, government entities, diplomatic and international relations. There was some talk about appointing a Prime Minister to oversee legislature but that shit was over my pay grade.
“She fucked up.” Paris said once we were outside. I saw no coffee cart for miles.
“You already sad that. Hope you still remember how to thread a needle cause you’re going to need a job”
He smiled quickly and efficiently. He’d spent every moment of 2026 winning over anyone and everyone he could. Seraphina had been placed on the NADF reserves and gone dutifully along with whatever Paris asked of her. She didn’t do that shit for nothing.
“Leon, I don’t plan to lose this country that easily. The resistance worked to hard. Endured too much.”
“Crossed to many lines.”
“I did what I had to.”, Paris reminded me.
“You’re starting to sound like your real Father.” I reminded him.
He stopped short.
“That’s not even funny. My father was a monster”
“What it means to be a monster has just changed, boss. I remember your old man and he thought what he was doing was right too.”
"He was a bloodthirsty warmonger. . . but I still miss him."
"Yeah, well rumor had it he was just following a dream he had too."
Paris shot me a side glance and smiled.
"Reading some good letters, Leon ?"
"Maybe."
From the steps of the Capitol building I can see the entire New Aeterna City Center sprawled ahead of us. It was a civic playground, dotted with white rotunda buildings. It was empty today, everyone at home anticipating the vote. If we didn’t get independence I wasn’t sure what happened next.
“Look, Leon.” Paris looked around, “You like being a NADF Captain don’t you ? You’re finally doing some good. Do you want to lose all that? Hand everything over to the U.S ? We can make New Aeterna great. Think of all of our people that died in Homeland. This is for them”
“That bullshit doesn’t work on me.”
“You sound like Sera. What does work on you ?”
“Not much, boss.”
A black SUV pulled up to the steps. Isobel rolled down the window and nods to me in greeting. She was wearing a sexy dark red dress that somehow managed to be classy. She was all made up and looked like a politicians’ wet dream of a hot intern.
“What’s going on ?” I asked.
Izzy got out the car and handed me and Paris a brief case.
“Tonight”, Isobel said, “Paris is going to be crowned the King of New Aeterna. If you still want to do this Paris.”
She and Paris shared this challenging look that meant something to the two of them but absolutely nothing to anyone else.
“You didn’t hear Sera’s final review, Is. They practically think Sera is going to nuke them.” I said.
“Doesn’t matter, Leon.” Paris said, “ We got this.”
The Prince heaved a briefcase on the trunk of the car and snapped it open.It was top to bottom filled with freshly minted U.S Dollars. Isobel took a second briefcase out and handed it to me. I sighed and waited for instructions like a good foot solider.
“What happened to earning the country ?
“Look Leon that’s good and all but if you want your own country . . . you have to buy it.”
+6+
At 5:44 am on January 1st 2027 The United States Congress with support from the Executive office signed Prop 1776 that granted New Aeterna the right to independent Nationship
At 9:17 am The Independent Nation of New Aeterna was official recognized by the U.N and by 9:45 the 130 unicameral legislators were sworn in.
At 10:42 am The United States Congress and Executive office in conjunction with the New Aeterna House of Commons and review of Judical Legislators recognized Paris Lucien Prince as the first populist King and diplomatic figure head of New Aeterna.
At 11:05pm After a 9
hour debate and addendum to appoint a Prime Minister within 365 days,
Paris Lucien Prince and Seraphina Athena Grigori were honored as the King and
Queen of New Aeterna on the steps of the New Aeterna Capitol building in the
middle of the fucking night, in front of a crowd of two hundred thousand waiving red and white New Aeterna flags.
Somehow Sera’s gaze found me in the crowd. Our eyes locked for several minutes, whatever she was trying to tell me I wasn’t getting. I winked at her and she appeared slightly amused then turned away. I hoped she was ready for this because I sure as hell wasn’t. I turned my back on the pop and flash of the thousands of cameras as they light up the night sky.
By 11:58pm I’d gotten home, packed for my next deployment and gone to bed.