Chapter 28: Chapter 28

Several days went by. The five of them spent much of their time doing nothing but talking about what might be taking Prime Minister Bissett so long and worrying. They also watched the news. It was obvious the Spanish-American forces were pushing the Mothers back, but the invasion was slow going, and it wasn’t clear whether or not the southern nation would give up and decide to go back home before reaching even the cities of Michaelanburg situated closest to their border.

They were listening to one such news report in the room assigned to Mist, since Walt had basically moved in there already and it was easier for the other three to come to them, when a sharp knock at the door drew their attention. Several times during the day, they were interrupted by knocks--food delivery, fresh clothing, someone from the staff checking to see if they needed anything--but this one was different. At the sound of it, Rain’s heart leapt into her throat. All five of them exchanged nervous glances.

It was Mist who had herself together quickly enough to go to the door and pull it open. Stringer stood there, a pleasant look on his face, though he always looked quite official. “Pardon the intrusion,” he said to all of them as Mist pulled the door open wider. “Prime Minister Bisset has a few moments. He would like to see you now.”

Rain’s eyebrows arched as she looked down at what she was wearing. A pair of jeans and a red sweater, hardly anything nice enough for meeting a head of state. The rest of them were dressed similarly. Something told her she wouldn’t have time to change.

“Don’t worry about your appearance,” Stringer continued, clearly reading her face. “He understands that you’ve had no notice. If you’ll follow me?”

It was a question, but there was no chance any of them were going to decline. Of course, they all jumped up and followed Mist out the door behind Stringer, down the long hallway, not a sound between them except for their heavy breathing and hammering hearts, the echo of their boots on marble floors. Rain didn’t even dare catch anyone else’s eyes for fear she’d see the same terror there that she felt inside of herself, bubbling to the surface more and more with each step.

They’d rehearsed what they would say and who should speak and determined Mist would make the best advocate for them. Rain was just fine with that since it seemed she’d said far too much to Lt. Laurant upon intake, at least twice as much as anyone else. As they approached a pair of wide maple doors, Rain’s fingers closed on the closest hand to hers. Without looking up, she knew it was Adam as his familiar fingers closed around hers. She hoped it didn’t show weakness to walk into the Prime Minister's presence not quite under her own power, but it couldn’t be helped.

She expected the room to be some sort of a throne room, like those she’d read about in books, even though he wasn’t a king. That wasn’t at all what they entered. It was more like a study, with several large, leather and wood chairs set before a blazing fireplace. Shelves and shelves of books lined the walls, and a massive wooden desk cluttered with papers and files was tucked in front of a wide window where rays of sunshine streamed in from a view overlooking the back lawn. Outside, a maze of green hedges and a birdbath created as pleasant a distraction as one could imagine.

Rains’ eyes didn’t linger between the dark green curtains for long. Instead, she looked at the man who was standing in front of one of the chairs near the fireplace. Wearing a simple suit, nothing fancy, no military medals or ribbons, he looked like many of the other middle-aged men she’d met on this journey. He had large whiskers down the sides of his face that met in a well-trimmed beard and a mustache in the same gray and brown hues adorned his upper lip. He wasn’t particularly tall or broad shouldered. To Rain’s eye, he looked unassuming, but his smile was kind and welcoming.

Alongside him stood a woman just slightly shorter than him with long brown hair wearing a nice floral gown in reds and purples and a girl who looked to be about Rain’s eyes with large brown eyes, similar to the prime minister’s. Her pretty face also bore a resemblance to the woman, causing Rain to assume this was the First Family of Quebec before they’d even been introduced.

“Thank you for meeting with me,” Prime Minister Bissett said as Stringer left them. There was a translating device sitting on a coffee table in the middle of the chairs, but he spoke their language fluently. Bissett offered his hand to each of them in turn. When Rain shook it, she was surprised at the strength of his grip, which didn’t match his physique in her judgement. “I am Geraldo Bissett. This is my wife, the First Lady, Mara, and our daughter, Josie.”

Each of them shook the women’s hands as well, and they all exchanged pleasantries before the prime minister offered for them to have a seat, which they all did, Mist and Walt right next to each other on the largest chair available, the others spread out more. Rain tried not to let her nervousness turn to jealousy. She didn’t have to be touching Adam, after all, did she?

“I appreciate your willingness to meet with me on such notice. I’ve been very busy recently, I’m afraid,” the prime minister began. “Also, I hope you don’t mind my family being present. Both Mara and Josie have been following the news reports of what is happening in your homeland, and they are quite interested in your stories.”

“We don’t mind,” Mist said for all of them, offering a small smile. “We appreciate your time.”

The prime minister nodded and asked, “You are the one called Mist, aren’t you?”

“I am,” she said with a reassuring rock of her head. “This is Walt.” He lifted a hand. Pointing to the others, Mist said, “This is Adam, Seth, and Rain.”

When her name was spoken, Rain tried to smile naturally but felt odd. Her nerves were getting the best of her. She did manage a small wave.

“It is nice to meet all of you. We are glad you were able to make it here without befalling any harm. Now, tell me, what is it you would like for the Nation of Quebec to do for you?”

In a much more succinct manner than Rain had done for Lt. Laurant, Mist explained that they would like for Quebec’s troops to help free the men and women of Michaelanburg. She mentioned how the men were being severely mistreated and that the women were being brainwashed from birth to believe that was fine. She also told him about the Bridge and how people were killed for any reason at all that the Mothers felt was reason enough to take someone there, but most especially any question of the Mother’s beliefs. “Now that Spanish-America has begun to make headway, it is the perfect time to bring your large forces from the north,” Mist continued. “There’s no way the Mothers will be able to defeat both sides.”

Prime Minister Bissett listened carefully while Mist spoke. The women gasped in concern several times, and while it was clear Josie, the daughter, was caught up in the story, it seemed clear she was also distracted as she continuously let her dark brown eyes flicker to Seth. If he noticed, Rain couldn’t tell, but she found it interesting.

When Mist finished with her rallying cry, the prime minister cleared his throat. “What you are proposing will be quite costly and dangerous for our nation,” he reminded her. “You are asking us to involve ourselves in the affairs of another sovereign nation. The last time that was done, I probably don’t have to remind you, there was a world war the likes of which we still have not recovered from. I’m not sure we can take that risk.”

“Sir, we understand what we are asking you to do,” Mist said, the urgency in her voice mounting. “But… when you see the way that human beings are being treated in Michaelanburg, what they are forced to do, I think you’ll understand why it is imperative that every nation on the planet that values freedom intervene as much as they possibly can. How can the citizens of Quebec truly enjoy their own liberty knowing that others are forced into servitude?”

“It’s just terrible,” Mara said, the first words she’d uttered since introductions were made. ”It rips my heart out to think about it. I’ve heard even babies are tossed aside if they aren’t deemed to be perfect. Is that true?”

“Yes,” Rain said before she realized she wasn’t supposed to speak. Her eyes went to Mist, who gave her a reassuring nod before she went on. “Mothers don’t carry their own children in Michaelanburg. We are all… grown in a little incubator. If at any point the child is labeled as failing to thrive, they’re disposed of.” Mara’s eyes had tears in them, but Rain didn’t stop. “It isn’t just babies, though. I can remember instances growing up where my playmates just disappeared one day. Something would happen at school, perhaps a girl was a little unruly, and then, she’d never come back. The Mothers told us they’d gone over the Bridge to have another try at perfection. As terrible as that is, for the men, it’s even worse.” Her eyes went to Adam and then Walt before she looked back at the first lady. “Most men won’t live to be thirty in Michaelanburg, if they get a chance to live at all. They’re used for insemination purposes, for construction, for waste disposal, and that’s it.”

“I never saw the sun or felt the rain on my face until after we fled,” Adam continued. “I had no idea what it felt like to stand in the grass or feel the wind in my hair. Most of the men born in Michaelanburg, in the hundreds of years since its founding, never experienced any of that.”

“We need your help,” Walt said. “We’ll go back and fight if we can, but we can’t do it alone.”

“Oklasaw has been battling the Mothers that invaded our territory, and I’m fairly certain we can organize at least a small force to invade, but without Quebec alongside us, we won’t make it far. Our understanding is that there are rebels in Dafo that have weapons they may lend to us, or that their forces may join us, too. It won’t take another world war to get rid of Michaelanburg, but it will take several nations standing together and saying, ‘No more.’”

Rain smiled at Seth proudly. This wasn’t even his fight, and he spoke with just as much conviction as the rest of them. When her eyes returned to the first family, it was clear Josie was impressed by his speech as well. Seth’s eyes were focused on her father, though.

The prime minster was shaking his head. Not a good sign. Rain drew in a deep breath and slowly let it out. “I am sympathetic with your plight, I truly am. But--”

“They’re using fossil fuels!” Rain blurted.

The prime minister stopped whatever it was he’d been about to say and stared at her. “Fossil fuels?” She nodded. “You’re sure?” Again, Rain nodded, even though she wasn’t a hundred percent sure. She was only going by what Mist had said, what she’d gathered on their journey, and the evidence she’d seen in Dafo.

Mist’s eyes were heavy on the side of her face, as if she wished Rain had not said anything, but it had been a last resort. Her friend spoke up now. “There’s documentation in Michaelanburg that shows many of the Military Mothers’ vehicles run on oil based fuels. Dafo knocked one out of the sky not long ago. They may have more information for you.” She left out the part that Dal had not recovered the vehicle.

Prime Minister Bissett’s expression changed, but only slightly. It seemed clear this information was something else to consider. Fossil fuels had been banned long ago, and the Mothers had declared time and time again that Michaelanburg was not using them, despite their location, situated right over top of one of the only remaining sources of petroleum in the world that hadn’t been completely depleted during the war.

Prime Minister Bissett cleared his throat. “Thank you all for your time,” he said, standing. How the guards standing outside the thick door knew the conversation was over, Rain didn’t know, but it opened, and she turned to see Stringer and several guards situated there. “I will consult with my cabinet members and we will decide what is best for Quebec.”

He offered his hand again and shook each of theirs. Rain thanked him for his time and mumbled that it was nice to meet his wife and daughter. Then, Stringer escorted all of them back to Mist’s room.

They took up the same seats on the couch and chairs that they’d had before the meeting, no one saying a word, defeated expressions on their faces. Rain fought tears, wishing they had another chance. Maybe if they could go back in there and speak to him again, they’d do a better job. But Mist had expressed herself well, and they’d given him as much information as they had available. He’d just have to be swayed to think it was in the best wishes of his nation to risk the lives and well-being of their soldiers, and invest possibly millions of dollars, to defeat a nation so far away from them, Michaelanburg would truly be no threat to Quebec under any circumstances.

“We did everything we could,” Seth said, finally cutting through the silence. “If he says no, we’ll go back to Oklasaw and see if there are enough militia willing to invade.”

“Do you think that’s even a possibility?” Mist asked him. “Haven’t your people given enough?”

He shrugged. “We do the right thing. No matter the cost.”

“We can’t ask you to do that,” Adam said, shaking his head. “You, personally, have already given so much to our cause. Your mom would be so upset to hear you were planning to try to convince your leaders to do even more.”

“My mom needs to understand that this isn’t just about stepping in on behalf of some friends,” Seth said, his voice stronger. “This is about looking at the state of the world, saying something’s not right, and being strong enough to stand up and change it. I was raised to know right from wrong. My grandfather would’ve never stood by and let others fight while he sat on his hands, and neither will I.”

Rain wanted to say something, to thank him, to praise him, but the words wouldn’t form. No matter how much time she spent thinking about the best way to express herself, she just wasn’t any good at producing the right statements when she needed them most. If only she could’ve come up with some compelling speech to move Bissett to action. Now, he was likely doing what he said he would, consulting with his cabinet members because he’d given them his word, but nothing would come of it. Perhaps Stringer would come in a day or two from now and tell them they were all welcome to stay, but Quebec could not afford to send help.

Their entire journey had been for naught. Now, they’d have to return to Michaelanburg to face the Mothers essentially alone, perhaps with a few spirited warriors from Oklasaw or Dafo, but that wouldn’t be enough. They’d all die, and the Mothers would go right on forcing their twisted values onto generation after generation.

Adam’s fingers closed around hers. “It’ll be all right, Rain,” he said. “I know it will be.”

“How do you know?” she asked him, her eyebrows arched as she looked into his blue eyes.

“Because it has to be.”

She shook her head slowly. “Sometimes that’s not enough.”

He pulled her close, and she rested her head on his shoulder, trying to clear her mind of worry and trust that whatever was meant to be would be, but in the back of her mind, the fear that they had failed simply wouldn’t go away. Now, they were back to waiting, waiting to find out their fates. Whether it would be another few days, weeks, or months, she couldn’t say, but the nervousness inside of her would continue to build until she knew for certain whether or not Quebec would do the right thing and step in on their behalf or if they’d have to face the Mothers alone.

The answer came only a few days later, and it wasn’t Stringer who knocked on Mist’s door one afternoon when the five of them were gathered in the same nervous tension they had been since their arrival. When Mist pulled the door open, it was Josie standing there, her brown eyes wide as she said, “Excuse me for interrupting.”

“No, it’s fine,” Mist said, dropping her head in some sort of bow in recognition of her stature. “How are you?”

“I am well, thank you,” she said. “Can I come in?”

“Of course.” Mist gestured for her to have a seat, which she did, on the sofa, near Seth but leaving a good foot or two between them. The girl’s cheeks pinked slightly when she looked at him.

“I have news. My father’s been meeting with his cabinet the last several days. They are always slow to action. There is a lot at stake,” she explained.

“Yes, that makes sense,” Mist said, reclaiming her seat next to Walt, across from Josie. “Have they made a decision?”

She nodded. “It is a tentative one. They want to start small, but be prepared for further action, should your claims be correct. While we are certainly concerned about the state of human lives in Michaelanburg, which you explained, the world will be more interested in your claims regarding fossil fuels. In order to justify our invasion, we will need proof that Michaelanburg has broken the treaty from the last world war and is using fossil fuels to power military vehicles. If that’s the case we have every right to invade and conquer their territories.”

“Wait!” Seth said, turning to face her. “Did you say start small? Does that mean--Quebec has agreed to invade?”

When Josie nodded her head, Rain could hardly believe what she was seeing. “The Secretary of Defense, General Gustaf Duquette, is calling up our first division now. We plan to launch our first attack as soon as they are ready, in a few weeks.” She looked at Seth then. “We will need permission from your government to launch from Oklasaw.”

He nodded. “I can get you that.”

Josie smiled at him, and Rain hoped he was right. Was Seth that connected that all he had to do was ask? The last time Oklasaw had helped them, it was to keep an invading nation out. Now, they’d be intentionally letting one in. She had to believe it would be trickier to get permission for that. Still, just the idea that this was moving forward, that help had arrived, was more than she could wrap her mind around.

“I have asked that the five of you be placed under my command in the Royal Coalition, it is a group of our finest soldiers. While we are trained to fight if need be, our objectives are usually the securing of intelligence. We think that you will be more valuable in that regard, assuming all of you wish to return and fight.”

“We do,” Mist said for all of them. “But… did you say your command?”

The prime minister’s daughter nodded. “I may look like the unassuming daughter of a dignitary, but I am much more than that.” She winked at Mist and then stood. “I will be in touch.”

All five of them jumped up and followed her to the door, thanking her. Josie stopped just before her hand went to the knob, and she turned to face them. “I truly think we will be successful,” she said with a sharp nod. “The five of you should be so proud of what you’ve done, all the lives that will change because of you. Together, we will conquer the Mothers and make the world a better place.” A confident smile graced her pretty face, and then she left.

The rest of the group immediately began to cheer, hugging and jumping up and down. Rain went through the motions, but in the back of her mind, she couldn't help but wonder… in the process of changing and saving all of those lives… how many innocent people were about to die?