“You’re not nervous at all, are you,” Lily said from his side.
“Not really. It’s no different than spending a few days at a management summit. Those are pretty brutal,” Felix said, still watching the monitor. “Everyone argues about the best way to do things. About why they’re right and you’re wrong. More often than not they’ll spend more time arguing one point than talking about what their actual policy is.”
“I take it your goal is to stick to your policy points then. Try and keep the back and forth to a minimum?” Lily asked.
“Somewhat. I’ll look for any opportunity to debate a point when I have a superior idea that fits the voters. Otherwise, yeah. I might spend some time addressing their issues with a sentence, but nothing more than that. I’m sure a portion of the audience, both here and at home, will be watching for the drama of it. They want to see the back and forth. Watch the candidates draw blood and argue. Our goal, Legion’s goal, is to get our message out.”
Felix paused as the female moderator of the pair finished introductions and then started to address the audience directly.
“Commercials and ads get skipped in today’s world. Record, watch later, fast forward. We’ll buy just as many ads as everyone else of course, but it doesn’t have the same impact it did, say, fifty years ago. This debate though… people will tune in to watch specifically. Then there will be reviews, summations, opinion papers, forum posts. No, we’re here to make sure our message is loud and clear.”
“And put yourself in harm’s way. We didn’t have to do this debate. They invited us more as part of the spectacle than anything,” Lily said with a touch of annoyance in her voice.
“We’ll take the opportunity for what it is. As far as danger… not really. I have my charm, my ring, and all of you,” Felix said. “Besides, we both know everyone is here and on guard.”
“Yes. Miu and Victoria are both in the audience, working the crowd. Legion security forces are spread out around the building in plain clothes, and Kit will be on the side of the stage,” Lily said.
“Good. That means all I have to worry about is all the bloodsuckers up on the platform with me who are out for blood,” Felix said.
A small light set to the side of the TV went from red to yellow.
“Ah, time to go and take my place I suppose,” Felix said. Standing up he turned to face Lily directly. “Let’s catch up after this. Maybe go hit a restaurant with those handy disguises of yours?”
Lily made a humming noise and smiled up at him. “Asking me out? Well. I’ll take you up on that. You’ll have to tell me where the courage came from as well.”
“I’ll tell you right now, since it’s actually rather simple,” Felix said, walking to the door that would lead him behind the stage. “I already know you’re interested, and that you’re just as nervous as I am. That makes it a lot easier to deal with.”
Lily was watching him with an amused look.
“Lost my mystery, have I?” she asked.
“Not at all. Far from it, in fact. It’s just different knowing it’s mutual,” Felix said, then left, getting the last word for once.
Ten seconds after leaving Lily in the green room, and Felix was waiting again.
He was standing atop a position marker that had his named painted on it. This was his assigned spot.
Trying to get an idea of his surroundings, Felix looked around. As a whole, the backstage wasn’t very well lit and everything was dipped in shadow. He didn’t know why but assumed it had something to do with lighting for the stage.
Kit slid out of the darkness from one side, coming to a stop at his side. “Did you have any further questions about my answers?”
Shit! I didn’t read them. Really need to take care of that.
“You didn’t read them,” Kit said with a flat tone.
Is she reading my mind? Think dirty thoughts of her to test it out. Kit with short hair taking a shower and—
“No, I’m not reading your mind. You’re just… much easier to understand now. After having read your mind, that is. You can stop thinking dirty things about me, unless you want to,” Kit said. She held out a small deck of index cards to him.
“I know you said you didn’t need them, but I made some quick note cards for you. Only a few sentences on each card. Bullet points if you will. Short enough that you can read them in a glance. I sorted it out by person with tabs on the side,” she said, indicating the said tabs with a finger.
“Thanks, Kit. I appreciate it,” Felix said, taking the cards from her. “Anything I need to know last minute before heading out there?”
“Not really, no. Though you’re supposed to give an interview later today. It’s not one of the networks that’ll probably give us favorable coverage, but it’s not one of the ones that’ll set out to try and end us either. It might be a good time to drop the news about the prison contract if it doesn’t come up here. Maybe earn you a favor,” Kit said. “And if not the prison contract, then the contracts for corporations. Lily approved what I put together and we’re ready to start up the program.”
“Fantastic. Between you, Andrea, and Lily, Legion damn nearly runs itself. I’m not sure I could do it without you three,” Felix said and meant it.
“Good thing we’re not going anywhere,” Kit said.
The light set in the ground next to his marker turned a solid green.
“Go get ’em, boss. You’re looking rather smartly dressed and ready,” Kit said, running her fingers over his lapel quickly. “It’s a shame most of that doesn’t count for much for those who think you’re simply too young. I’ll be on the side playing spy as we go. This’ll be a good opportunity to go diving for secrets,” Kit added, unable to keep a chuckle out of her voice. “It’s a good thing telepathy powers aren’t that common, otherwise the world would be run by us.”
Felix couldn’t help but agree with that sentiment.
Stepping forward he exited the backstage. He pressed through a slit in the curtain in front of him and stepped out onto the main stage.
Lights beamed down from above, and Felix had a hard time seeing what was in front of him.
“Felix Campbell, founder and CEO of Legion,” said a female voice over the loudspeaker.
Whoever was manning those spotlight beams from hell took pity on Felix. They thankfully shifted away from sitting right on his face.
Felix could finally see the audience. It was full.
Full of people, cameras, reporters, and security.
The entire place was packed from wall to wall. There wasn’t an empty chair in the building or even standing room.
Waving with a smile, Felix walked up to the podium that had been set out for him. Setting the cards Kit gave him down atop it, he looked to his sides.
He found at least half of the other candidates standing at their podiums as well. They were men and women who had been in politics for quite a while. There were also quite a few people Felix had given money to so that they’d run, even if they weren’t the primary candidate.
He gave them each a polite nod of his head and a smile. It never hurt to be polite when other people could see.
Letting his eyes wander to the crowd, he focused on himself. Keeping himself calm and collected.
The introductions continued on, giving Felix a chance to settle his mind.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we’ll now begin the debate. First will be a simple question and answer session. Each question will be directed at one candidate at a time. Each candidate will have two minutes to answer the question,” said one of the moderators. “These questions were all submitted by the audience prior to this evening. We’ll go left to right to keep things simple.”
The moderator picked up a piece of paper from their desk. “The first question is, in light of recent events regarding the prison break, what do you feel is the best course of action with regards to the heroes guild?”
Damn. They’re not playing around. That’s a pretty loaded question to answer. This’l
l separate those who support the Heroes from those who don’t right at the start.
Felix watched, and waited. He listened and tried his best to memorize what each man or woman was saying and their position.
They all had rather bland answers. Of course they supported the Heroes guild. They wanted more oversight over zoning but didn’t feel the guild was responsible at all.
On and on they went, praising the guild and extolling their virtues. While also heaping criticism on the missing Governor.
Felix thought the man was dead somewhere, the aneurysm the Fixer had prepared having come to fruition in some dark corner of nowhere.
“Mr. Campbell, your time starts now,” said a moderator. Felix turned his head to the moderator and smiled.
Damnit, Felix, not the time to be losing track of yourself.
“To repeat your question, what is the best course of action with regards to the guild of heroes,” Felix said, giving himself a moment to catch up. “Do I support the guild? Yes, of course. I’d be foolish not to.”
“Sure have a weird way of showing that,” said someone to his right.
Looking over, Felix found the speaker. It was Dave Nectar. A copper skinned short manchild with a huge ego and eyes as dark as tar.
He had to be at least forty and his vanity was clear to everyone considering how much time he clearly spent on his looks. Felix wouldn’t have been surprised if he drove a giant truck and lived at the gym.
Didn’t help matters with a name like Dave Nectar. It sounded like a moniker someone in the adult video industry would use.
That and seeing a woman young enough to be his daughter.
Felix wasn’t unfamiliar with this pitiful man. He was a leading member of humanity first, and happily espoused the view that anyone who wasn’t human shouldn’t be in Tilen.
The problem was that many conservatives fell into that mindset out of fear.
In that moment, Felix realized the moderators weren’t on his side, since they said nothing to the breach of etiquette.
Staring at the man for several seconds, Felix turned back to the crowd and grinned.
“Someone will have to remind Mr. Nectar about the rules later on, and teach the moderators how to moderate. I’m sure I can arrange some training at Legion University if any of you are interested. Tuition is very affordable,” Felix said with a snicker.
The audience chuckled at that, joining Felix in his laughter.
“Now. I do support the guild. What I don’t support is the attitude, or current procedures. Had the jail been constructed outside the city, none of this would have happened with a jail break. I’d like to ask them why it was built in the city to begin with. Was it for the convenience of the heroes? I’m fairly certain they’re paid quite well by the guild to be heroes. I can’t imagine they’re not able to afford bus fare or a car?” Felix asked, looking around.
There were nods at that, people frowning in thought.
“For the rest of us, our taxes will be spent repairing a city that was damaged through the neglect of the current local government, and the guild. Thankfully, Legion security forces brought relief to the situation and were able to hand the reins off to the National Guard on their arrival. I applaud the Guard’s efforts in keeping the peace and giving my people the chance to get back home. So yes, I support the guild. I don’t support their recent choices, or procedures.”
“You support them so much, you steal their prison contracts,” said Dave.
“Goodness me, Dave. I think we’ll have to teach you some manners if you visit the college since your parents didn’t.
“To answer your point though. Yes, Legion is taking on the prison contracts that the guild was handling. We’re doing it as a non-profit, and re-investing every dollar we make back into the prison system. In fact, the contract will be made publicly available after this debate,” Felix paused to make sure everyone got that.
A number of people were hurriedly writing down notes.
“Legion will, of course, be hiring more guards, and possibly rebuilding some of the prisons. If you’re looking for work and have the qualifications, be sure to drop a resume off with Legion. Our goals with these contracts is to offer better accommodations and opportunities to inmates, while also offering more protection to the citizens. I would like to point out that we’re not taking on the super villains though. That is still the domain of the Heroes guild.”
Felix took a good look around. He saw numerous heads bobbing along as they considered his words.
Good. Reconfirm our promises to the voters, and pull them in with the sweet song of logic.
“Moderators, could you actually moderate please?” Felix asked, looking to the man and woman sitting at the desk. “I’d like to donate the rest of my time so you can review the rules with Mr. Nectar. I’d hate for him to break them another time and make you look like you’re not doing your job. Again. Though the offer to attend the university is open, of course.”
That actually got the room to laugh darkly. Felix didn’t think it was particularly funny, but he was pulling the audience into his domain.
Both of the moderators looked annoyed and caught at the same time. He could only imagine they were on Nectar’s payroll.
“I… that is,” said the male moderator.
“Our apologies, Mr. Campbell. I’m sure Mr. Nectar will respect the rules going forward,” said the female moderator pointedly.
“I look forward to the rules being upheld,” Felix said, leaning forward over his podium and resting his chin on his palm. “And you doing your job. Finally.”
The audience laughed again at that.
Swagger will do just dandy right now.
“Yes… moving on. Mr—”
Felix shook his head with a smile and stood back up, tuning the moderator out. There wasn’t much of a point to listening to the rest of the answers. They’d all be variations on a theme about supporting the guild, or so he expected.
Looking to his cards, he flipped through them. Each one really did have some good information for each person up here on stage with him. Most of it was repeating what he already knew. It did help to refresh his memory and reinforce what he thought he knew, which was helpful.
He was appreciative for the simple fact that Kit had done it for him without asking, despite his resistance.
Damn, her email. I need to read that after this. Read the email after the debate. Read the email. Read it.
Stacking the cards, he set them back down in front of himself, and did his best to pay attention to the answers being given.
As he’d predicted, everyone stood with the guild completely. Felix ended up being the only one speaking against them. It was odd to a degree, at least to Felix.
Maybe there’s something behind that.
When they finally pop open the data on their server, it’d be good to find out if they’re using some type of leverage in the political world.
The next several questions were all much softer. Taxes, environment preservation, public works proposals, and propositions on how to spend money.
None of these were controversial or even concerning. As a governor, the power of the position only stretched so far.
Then the debate portion opened up and everyone began talking back and forth about their points and positions they’d stated earlier.
Everyone, including Dave, avoided talking about the guild. They also avoided talking about the prison break. Even when Felix brought it up and reiterated his points, his plans, and what he wanted to do, no one questioned him.
If anything, Felix was thankful for that. It made him unique in his platform, and in giving tired, scared, and frightened citizens an answer.
“And now we’re going to ask some questions directed at individual candidates from the audience,” said the female moderator.
Felix blinked and looked up from the podium. He’d been wondering how they’d come at him next. This seemed tailor-made for that purpose.
“Mr. Campbell, I’
m afraid that the vast majority of the questions were directed towards you,” said the male moderator. “We—”
“I’ll answer them all,” Felix said with a wide smile. “Please, let’s begin.”
Give me all your air time. I’ll take it all.
The moderators stared at Felix, stupefied. Either at his answer, or for interrupting them.
“I’m more than happy to answer all of them. Begin whenever you’re ready,” Felix said, making sure it was clear to everyone watching he would do it.
The moderators looked at each other and then back to Felix.
“I don’t think we could do that,” said the female moderator.
Felix shrugged and held up his hands.
“But we’ll definitely start with you,” she continued. “The first question we have is, what are your feelings regarding non-humans? Do you feel you can separate the issues humanity faces, given that you’re in a relationship with a Beastkin?”
Felix nodded his head. It was definitely a question he was expecting.
Though he’d half expected them to start with slavery, really.
“First, I’ll address the unasked question. Yes, I’m in a relationship with a Beastkin,” Felix said. He had no reason to hide it, and didn’t have a desire to either. If anything, the public admission would only cement his relationship with the backers he wanted.
“Now to the actual question. Our state itself is made up of many different racial profiles. In fact, we have one of the most diverse racial makeups of any city, here in Tilen. This is especially true for the more rural areas, where certain humanoids can excel at whatever profession they choose. That doesn’t mean we should be sending them all to live somewhere,” Felix said, emphasizing his point by hitting the podium with his palm.
“All citizens, regardless of race, are given the right to vote. They do, however, have different needs. What proposals would work for, say, a Troll, wouldn’t work for an Elf. Or a human,” Felix said, leaning over his podium again. “My feelings are pretty straightforward. Are you a citizen, or not? If you’re a citizen, you’re due all the rights anyone else gets. But can we make everything to accommodate everyone? That’s another problem entirely. I can’t exactly get an Ogre a motorcycle that’d fit him without it being custom made.”
Super Sales on Super Heroes: Book 2 Page 18