by L E Boyd
“What...do you...mean, ma’am?”
“I think that maybe we’re wrong with Project Boudica. Maybe we don’t need to make the men servants. At least not forever. Maybe we don’t need to mandate military service, maybe we can be balanced and live in a happy peaceful democratic like society.”
“Oh,” Riva said in response. She stopped riding her male companion and walked down the hallway into her office. “Why is that, ma’am?”
“Well, I just sent one of our best teams of astronauts, scientists, engineers, and physicians to go to space and find a new planet for us to live on.”
Riva typed on her computer and pulled up an electronic program and a video camera of the interior of Catherine’s car.
“The mission has a strong chance of failure. I don’t want them to potentially die in vain or as members of a nation who subjected its people to servitude not once, but twice. That’s a waste of four women’s lives, and three males in cryogenic sleep.”
“I see,” Riva said as she clicked the buttons a few more times until her screen turned red and asked the following: Confirm Detonation: Yes or No.
“Ma’am, would you ever reconsider letting men back into society without chips?” she asked.
“Well…” Catherine paused and thought hard as her car traveled off the base and onto the interstate. “One day I do hope to,” she responded.
Riva then clicked the button that said Yes and a countdown of five seconds began.
“Well, ma’am, maybe one day we will get there,” she replied.
“Yes, maybe we—” The phone was cut and the screen went to fuzzy black, white, and gray on her computer screen.
She closed her laptop and went back to her unnamed male companion.
“In five minutes, you’re going to do some things for me. You’re going to destroy my laptop and you’re going back into the cupboard until I say you can come out. Understand?”
“Yes, ma’am,” he said.
“Good, now where were we?” she said as she laid into him for an intense kiss and more pleasure.
Chapter 20: The Darkness
One week later...
“President Rolb, it’s time.”
In one weeks’ time since Catherine’s death much had occurred. The government shut down temporarily, international relations regarding unification treaties were put on hold, businesses closed, TAPS played over every system at the hour of her death at eight in the morning, and schools and universities were closed. The nation had closed itself off and went into mourning.
President Rolb stepped up to the podium wearing an all black suit, with her hair pulled up into a bun, and wearing the red, white, and blue presidential sash.
“Good afternoon. Today we are here to say goodbye to a strong and independent woman, President Catherine Louise Kearny. She has lead us from a trying times of reconstruction, redirection, and reforming our nation,” she began.
Vice President now President Rolb had taken the oath of office in the library at the White House an hour after death and addressed the nation with a face of shock. She had not quite accepted the death of President Catherine Kearny—her friend, her mentor, her President, but now she was beginning to and it was becoming overwhelming.
“She was a woman of…” she was stopped in her tracks by her nerves. Priscilla’s hands were shaking so hard that they could be heard echoing throughout the church.
“Of...of…”
“Many unique talents and strengths,” Riva said, aiding Priscilla from an opposite podium. “She was a brilliant attorney, a strong fighter, and a wise leader. She led us out of bondage to mankind and liberated us into this new generation of female dominance. I am so grateful that I had the privilege to not only fight alongside her during the rebellion, but to also lead with her as the Secretary of State. On each of my diplomatic missions, I kept her words of wisdom in mind: understand the other cultures customs and courtesies, try to solve things appropriately, and if all else fails, fight to win,” she said as the attention of the audience and cameras shifted from President Rolb to Vice President Dillon. She looked solemn but strong as she spoke.
A wave of applause was heard across the memorial service. Showing respect for the past and reverence for both the present and the future. Riva had the nation right where she wanted them—in the palm of her hand.
“Although she is gone, her spirit and her vision of this new great matron bound nation is alive and well. Let us go forward and conquer on!” she shouted, thrusting her fist in the air to the sound of thunderous applause. The audience rose to their feet and applauded thunderously. The loudness echoed throughout the vast room and it was clear who the leader was in the room. It did not come with the title of President. It came with the approval of the people. And it was clear at that moment that she had it. Riva Dillon was no longer simply just the American Vice President.
She was the American Queen.
Author Biography
L.E. Boyd is an Amazon Bestselling Author. Her debut novel “The Strongest Survivor” was well received upon release. She is a former math teacher and full time comic book nerd. Her favorite superhero is Hawkgirl and she enjoys training like a superhero as a Beachbody Coach and half-marathon runner. She lives in Beaufort, South Carolina and hopes to have a dog in the near future.
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[1]Television screens? Projector screens?