Every Last Mother's Child

by William J. Carty, Jr

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  After Aggie and Lord Mercer left, Jill went to her room and re read the document, several times occasionally using the palace’s AI to help her research the royal library to see other models of government. She became quietly impressed with the crafting of the document. As she checked it against other forms of government she quickly found that whoever was the major author of it had done their homework.

  She was also very impressed with the bill of rights. She was very impressed when it extended rights to artificial intelligences. She wasn’t certain that she as the monarch should pay for a defendant’s lawyer; but as she researched that part of it she began to see the wisdom of it. She made a note to talk with Princess Carroll to see about setting up some sort of a fund to cover it. At dinner that night she was distracted as were her father and mother. Everyone was so lost in their thoughts that the anniversary party was subdued. After the party broke up Jill went back to her research. Near dawn she placed a call to the academy and extended an offer to have Mrs. Gabriel breakfast with her at Serenity.

  After leaving a message for Maggie that she was inviting Speaker Gabriel to breakfast, she showered. As she showered she thought of all the ramifications of what she had read. She surprised herself when she agreed with most of it, and could live with the parts she was not sure she understood well. She didn’t want to change anything on it. But she wanted some guarantees too. As she finished brushing her hair there was knock on the door. When she asked who it was, her father answered. She made sure she her robe was closed and allowed him to enter. He had a copy of the constitution with him.

  “What do you think,” her father asked.

  “I like it,” Jill said suppressing a yawn. “I stayed up all night and read it did some looking around the royal library. I think it will work.”

  “Did you see the point about succession?” her father asked.

  “Yes it was one of the things I didn’t quite understand,” Jill admitted.

  “Well from what I understand,” Her father continued, “They want the right to approve your successor. The way they have it set up is that say you nominate your first born as your successor and say he has a gambling problem. One that has him spending more time at the casino than at school for instance then the parliament has the right to reject your son as your successor. But they can’t nominate a successor. Only you can. But should you find that you want the boy to be your successor then you can go to the planetary bench and let them settle it.”

  “It doesn’t sound that simple,” Jill replied. “But there is a whole section on the right of succession and how to go about replacing me if I become incapable of doing the job because of medical frailty.”

  “So will you accept it?” her father asked as her mother came in and leaned on the door frame.

  “Only if you, Aggie and Mom will be there to help me.” Jill answered. “I will need all of your help to do this!”

  She had thought long and hard about becoming queen. She had decided that she would become queen. When she realized how many people had stepped up to do jobs that hadn’t done before, or the sacrifices everyone was making to get their people to safety; she felt she had to stand up and be counted. Her father’s voice interrupted her thoughts.

  “Jill,” her father took her by the chin looking into her eye, “when you were born I swore an oath to take care of you and to be there for you, to protect you and to help you become whatever your destiny was to be. I can do no less now. I know I know I left you for five years but you were well looked after by your grandmother. But I will be there for you.”

  Jill didn’t know what to say and was trying to formulate her response when her step mother came and stood next to her father, “Jill we will be there for you. Jill I won’t let anything keep us from helping you. We won’t run off again. I won’t let him.”

  “Miss Jill,” Maggie came into her room. “Your breakfast guest will be here in a few minutes. Miss Mitchum just called.”

  “Thank you Maggie,” Jill answered as her mother cocked an eyebrow at her. She was supposed to clear all guests with Lisa before the invitation was issued.

  “I’m sorry mom,” Jill looked a little sheepish, “I asked Speaker Gabriel to breakfast with me.”

  “Do you want company?” Her father asked.

  “Yes I would enjoy having you both there when I give Mrs. Gabriel my decision,” Jill returned.

  A few minutes later Mitch and Mrs. Gabriel were escorted into the smaller less formal dining room.

  “Welcome to Serenity Mrs. Gabriel,” Jill greeted the woman. “Let me introduce you to my father, Lord Michael Wilson, and my mother Lady Lisa Wilson.”

  “It’s good to meet you,” Mrs. Gabriel replied shaking her father’s and mother’s hand. She turned to the young woman beside her and back to Jill and said, “Majesty thank you for the loan of your sergeant major. I couldn’t have asked for a better aide.”

  “You are quite welcomed,” Jill returned, “Mitch is one my top cadets.”

  “If she is one of your top cadets, and from what I saw I can well believe she is, then she will go onto greatness,” Suzy replied. She had been quite surprised when she had found out that her escort and aide was that Valerie Mitchum. She refrained from getting the young woman’s autograph!

  “Yes she will,” Lisa rubbing the girls back, “Come on sit.”

  Jill nodded at Maggie who brought breakfast to them.

  They spent a few minutes exchanging pleasantries, before Jill decided to breech the subject of the government.

  “Speaker Gabriel,” Jill said getting the document out, “I am inclined to sign this thing without any revisions or demands.”

  That shocked Suzy. She figured there would be long discussions over some of the points in the constitution. No one in their right mind would just blindly accept the thing. She was about to say something; but was cut off by the young woman as she continued.

  “Although I am inclined to accept this with no changes or demands,” Jill continued, “I do want some guarantees.”

  Suzy knew that it wouldn’t be simple, “Such as?”

  “The Queen’s Own Corps Cadet Academy is to be a royal institution on Home.” Jill said, “And Lady Hawthorne is to be its commandant. The Commandant’s position is to be a hereditary position from the lady’s family. Her chief advisor is to be the last duty post of the most senior ranking NCO in the militia. I believe that Lady Hawthorne has done a good job; but if it hadn’t been for the sergeants who have shown up to help she wouldn’t have been able to pull it off. I also want all military education, and training to be by disabled military personnel, or officers on their last duty station. All of the officers and the NCOs are not to have had any disciplinary problems, and they are to be the best of the best in their MOS. I want the Militia Officers and enlisted people to think of an assignment to the academy as a reward.”

  “That makes sense,” Suzy said, “As you are the Commander in Chief of our militia what you want at your service schools is what you get.”

  Jill nodded then went on, “I want a monument erected in the center of Ellis that lists every man woman and child whose life was lost during the evacuation. In addition I want a monument erected to the people of Earth, and the people of Thonia as a thank you for the assistance they have given us during the evacuation.”

  Jill’s statement surprised her father. Michael knew that Jill was no slouch when it came to school and current events. He hadn’t been aware of how much she had been paying attention to the losses of the evacuation forces though. Though not many, there had been a few. Jill’s voice brought him back to reality, “I also want a memorial to the Trojack HRT to be erected without them Mom would not be here.”

  “Anything else,” Suzy asked so far not upset at the young woman’s request.

  “Yes so there is unity between all people of Home, I would like to be formally sworn in on Home.” Jill said, “By her majesty. I will take my oath of loyalty and fealty to the people o
f Home on the Rock,”

  Suzy nodded, she like the symbology of it.

  “I want to make sure my cadets are safely loaded onto transports, and I will accompany them to Home.” Jill spoke quietly. Mike was about to say something, but decided against it. It was fitting.

  “I’ll make it happen,” her father ordered.

  “There is nothing else.” Jill concluded.

  “I need to get back to Home, and tell the assembly that our queen has approved our constitution with her requests.” Suzy replied.

  “You’ll make the announcement here,” Michael said, “Then you’ll go aboard the Traveling Lady and go to Home.”

  “Why the Traveling Lady,” Suzy asked.

  “My mother is leaving for Home in the next day or so and her ship is the next best thing to get you back,” Michael replied.

  “Very well then,” Suzy replied, “Your majesty, Jill thank you for your gift and for willingness to be our Queen.”

  “You are welcomed,” Jill said as Mitch suddenly stood turned to her friend and said, “Your majesty the Queen’s Own Royal Corps of Cadets stands ready to serve you.”

  Then her father stood and turned to her, “Your majesty. I stand ready to serve you and the people of Home.”

  “Long live queen Jill,” Mitch called. She was joined by the others in the room.

  “That’s enough!” Jill pleaded, “I am, still Jill!”

  “Okay Jill,” Her mother replied, “we’ll knock it off.”

  “Jill,” Mitch asked, “So what happens next?”

  “Dad,” Jill turned to her father.

  “We make it happen,” her father replied.