Angelos Odyssey

2 – A New City-3

“Without the President around as a reminder of what we fought for,” Mosley, the Executive of Zone F begins, “I can’t help but question the place of our religion in this new government.”

“There shouldn’t be any question at all,” replies Zone D’s Executive Isenwold. “Belief in Avva is sanctioned by Dharmanic Lord Isolakandi. Avva herself was a virtual paradigm of human perfection, so of course we should continue letting her written commandments guide our administration!”

“I disagree,” says Lauren, the Executive of Zone A. “I’m sorry, Isenwold, but there’s just not enough proof to indicate that Avva was anything but human.”

“Pardon me—”

“Moreover, Avva’s prophecies of the future were only likely outcomes, but that doesn’t mean that we should base our policies off the oldest religion in the country.”

“That’s a very disrespectful line of reasoning, Executive Lauren,” Mosley retorts with a scowl. “Avva means more to the people than all of us combined. Belief in her is how we’ve maintained our social contract with the people this far into what’s been a total disaster.”

“So we should keep deceiving them then?” Lauren asks him.

“There is no deception here, Executive. You cannot take away a peoples’ god in the midst of a crisis and expect them to obey your authority. Why, after all, would you suggest any such course of action when we’ve barely a grip on the Citadel as it is. Hell, I need Avva.”

“Executive Mosley, with all due respect, do you actually believe that Avva ‘ascended?’”

“She died during childbirth,” Zone C’s Rulius speaks up. “The child she was carrying was cursed somehow, and it proved to be fatal.”

“Either way,” Isenwold responds without skipping a beat, “Avva was taken into the realm of Isolakandi, and Her purpose was always to minister unto ordinary humans.”

“But we aren’t ordinary humans, are we?” argues Mosley.

Executive Mosley leans back in his seat while a great ivory hall glows in the Sun behind him; he clasps his hands together and says, “We’ve been elected to represent the interests of the people. Everyone is depending on us—what, with Gozadalus threatening to overrun the Four Cities, Alandra waiting in the shadows, and monsters swarming throughout the Lower-City. If we fail in this administration, then this country will fail like the others before it.” Mosley turns his head to look directly at Executive Lauren as he lectures her, “And that’s why ‘faith’ is a necessary component of all our actions going forward. We must trust that we act in good faith with both Lord Isolakandi and the people, understand?”

“I... I apologize. I don’t agree with this.” she responds and shakes her head.

“Will you risk surrendering your esteemed position over it, Lauren?” Mosley inquires.

She pauses momentarily, then she replies, “No. If that’s what it takes to control the chaos, then I have no choice.”

“Since we’re speaking of honoring traditions,” Executive Jiaoxin of Zone B interjects, “how are we to handle President Dereikaund’s son, Naomasa?”

“We won’t.” Mosley says with no clear emotion.

“For what reason?”

“The House of the President no longer exists as a legitimate power within the Citadel. Naomasa was once an heir to political power, but now he will merely be the heir of his family’s wealth. This should work out well for him, as the many stresses of governing should not all be weathered by one man. I’m under the assumption that he has no real need of us, and so there’s no reason to speak with him.

“This is a new government and thus a new city as well. The Democratic Council, with the addition of Staff Commander Asenso Ido and Secretaries Deandra and Lovan, constitutes what should now be known as the Republic of Avva. With our combined intellects, I’m confident that there’s a brighter future ahead than anything Derek could’ve ever conceived.

“This is gonna be a long conference, ladies and gentlemen, and that’s why our interrogation of the Dawn Bureau’s leader is a priority if we’re to discuss how to unite this country.”

Executive Mosley peers down at what looks like his Kom Cell, then he quickly looks up and speaks, “Maxwell says he’s here—oh, and there’s one of our secretaries coming now. Good. Everything’s going to be perfectly fine.”