Beneath Terran Thrones

Chatper 2

Mareka placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, as if to remind her of the surroundings not to do anything stupid. The touch seemed to have calmed her as her breathing slowed down and became normal. She looked down at the girl again and smiled at her. It may have been a forced smile but the cameras and the whole nation was watching. Forget the nation it was the entire Earth that was watching along with their puppet solar systems the likes of Alpha Centaury and Trappist, and not to forget the entire home world of the Futraxi called Futrax simply.

She kneeled next to the girl and pulled out a lollipop from her pocket handing it to her. The entire crowd that had gathered went up into a roar of celebration. They knew their new governor isn’t going to be xenophobic or racist towards the Futraxi. Unlike the neo-Nazi factions that have arisen across the empire mostly on Alpha Centaury. Which is exactly the reason Futraxi never dare to step foot on Alpha Prime, and in a way, they are forced to live on Earth where the conditions have gotten bad. Earth itself can’t support its humans let alone aliens. One of the many problems Charlote would have to deal with when she becomes governor. The crowd cheered at their new governor, if only they knew.

Mareka and Charlote made their way past the crowd and towards the black floating car, there was no brand it was government issued vehicle. One of the guards opened the door for them. Charlote peeped her head inside to her surprise there was a person inside already.

“Heyah!” exclaimed the person, as she bumped her head against the roof of the car, she was startled.

“What are you doing here?” she asked as she entered the car and sat down. The cars did not have a driver so the seats front and back were facing each other like a luxurious limousine. Mareka sat down next to the person across from Charlote. He was dressed in shorts and had flip flops, with beard and long blonde hair. Quite the stark contrast to Mareka who was dressed in his full admiral uniform, the two men looked at each other. Seymour offered his palm to shake to Mareka, he just looked down on him from head to toe and didn’t utter a word. Seymour took the hint and retreated.

“What are you doing here?” Charlote asked again as the car started moving. “You know you could get executed for doing this? You can’t just sneak into the governor’s car.”

“Governor to be!” Seymour raised his finger and smiled as he was correcting her. Charlote rolled her eyes and was getting impatient.

“So what do you want?” she wasn’t going to be dealing with his shenanigans not now.

“What are you doing on Gaia?” he looked at her straight in the eyes and asked.

“I asked you first…” Charlote looked back with angry eyes, letting him know she isn’t messing around. Seymour looked away and sighed.

“I have what you asked for…” he said reluctantly, as he pulled out a small USB drive from his pocket, and showed it towards Charlote who reached for it, before Seymour pulled back and looked at her. “I know what this is…” he commented. “Are you sure you want to do this?” he looked at the USB.

Charlote leaned back on the seat and starred at the USB for a moment. Does she indeed want to do this? Is she ready for what’s about to come. Her heart started racing again by the disgust of the thought of what she would have to trough, but this was it, this was the moment that her mother has been preparing her for, this was the moment that the mother was teaching her, her whole life. This is her opportunity, and she must take it. Instantly she sprang up and grabbed the USB away from Seymour.

“Thank you…” she looked him, he was surprised by her quickness, and perhaps maybe of what that USB can do and she not even giving it a second thought.

“Does this favor earned me the right to ask what you are doing on Gaia? Or more precisely Gaia BH-1?” Seymour gulped down, maybe he wasn’t supposed to ask this.

“Mareka care to explain why the most renowned and not so sophisticated hacker in the world isn’t able to find any information about a top-secret project that may or may not be happening in Gaia BH-1?” Charlote asked sarcastically.

“Because it’s top secret,” replied Mareka slightly turning his head toward Seymour, but keeping that cold blooded look.

“Wow really?” he asked as if he was going to get an answer from both. “Well how do you manage to keep that information from me? You know I am the best around.”

“Let’s say I’ve learned a thing or two from working with you all these years. And keeping in formation safe was one of them.”

“You could just tell me; I am your friend,” he smiled like a little kid. Charlote sighed in frustration and looked away.

“When it’s done, I’ll let you know, it’s too risky. Now…” she looked at him. “I suggest you hide your face; I can’t be seen with you and the public cannot see that there was a third person in the car,” she warned him. But it seemed like there was no need to tell Seymour because as soon as the door of the car opened, he made it seem like he was never there. He went out of the car without anyone noticing, he was so good at disappearing at moment’s notice.

Charlote and Mareka stopped outside the grandiose Senate building, a towering structure that symbolized both the authority and the stagnation of Earth's current governance. Charlote looked in the distance with a resolute expression, clutching the USB drive tightly in her hand. Mareka followed closely, his stern demeanor unwavering. As they made their way through the echoing halls of the Senate, Charlote felt a flutter of nerves. She was about to face some of the most powerful and entrenched figures on Earth. Yet, a steely determination kept her steps firm. The weight of the USB in her pocket was a constant reminder of the evidence she carried evidence that could dismantle the old guard and pave the way for a new era. She was so focused she didn’t notice anyone around her, until somebody yanked her hand. It must have been somebody that Mareka knows and trusts as well as the guards, otherwise that person wouldn’t be able to even get a sniff of Charlote.

“What are you doing here!?” exclaimed Charlote, surprised and pleased to see her. “I thought you were…”

“I will be, I will be going to Gaia tomorrow, lot’s to oversee there, but I wanted to see you before I went there. I may never get the chance to see you again, now that you are governess to be,” she smiled. “With all your politics and documents and business,” she leaned close to her. Charlote looked at Mareka as if to say something, but she didn’t need to say anything as he just nodded at her and knew that he would have to stall the meeting and keep the ministers entertained while she is gone. Charlote grabbed Isabella by her hand, and she opened the first office door she could find. Luckily for them it was an empty conference room.

“Governess to be?” asked Charlote.

“Do you like the sound of it?” asked Isabella.

“I like it coming out of your mouth,” she smiled. As Isabella launched herself at her and pushed her on the table. Kissing and groping each other, both of their white hair’s indistinguishable from each other tangled up. It was the reason they met each other that one night at the bar. Isabella noticed a girl with the same hair color as hers and approached her, it would have been weird had it been the other way around since Charlote is the introvert, and not only that but she has this quirk of calling people by their name only when she is around them, something like a psychological issue that she had. Ever since both have hit it off. Neither of them aware that night of the fact that one of them was going to become the Governor of all Earth and its colonies on Mars, Alpha Centaury and Trappist. And the other the head scientist of all the colonies.

“If you liked that, then you would like this,” smiled Isabella and dived her head between Charlote’s thigs as she moaned, carefully not to alert anyone what they are up to.

Moments later, Charlote adjusted her clothes and straightened her hair, her professional mask slipping back into place. Isabella gave her a final, lingering look before slipping out a different door, blending into the bustling activity of the Senate building.

Charlote composed herself and headed toward the meeting room, her heart pounding with a mix of anticipation and resolve. Mareka joined her at the entrance, giving her a reassuring nod. “Ready?” he asked.

“Let’s do this,” Charlote replied, her voice steady.

Inside the ornate chamber, the ministers of Earth sat around a large, circular table, their faces a mix of curiosity and skepticism. The air was thick with tension and the weight of centuries-old traditions. Charlote took her seat at the head of the table, her posture commanding, as Mareka stood guard nearby.

“Good afternoon, ministers,” Charlote began, her voice carrying a confident edge. “I appreciate you all taking the time to meet with me today, and I must apologize for my tardiness, I had to visit my father, and along the way I had some ‘things,’ that came up. I know you’re busy, so I’ll get straight to the point,” she twisted her head and smiled slightly in a sinister way.