Rebels Among Cyborgs

Chapter 14

After gawking at the sunset for a few minutes while the rest of the guests exited the hovercraft, we were escorted off the roof and through dozens of massive, gorgeous hallways with exquisite decorations. After walking for what felt like an hour, we reached what the escorts called the Grand Ballroom. And it was grand indeed.

The roof went up at least two stories, according to the balconies placed here and there, and the extremely ornate columns supporting it were close to the walls, leaving plenty of space for guests and dancing. A complete orchestra was playing waltzes and tangos while the guests who had already arrived spun around the dance floor. Streamers, balloons, and lush draperies took up a large amount of the space in the room. But the most prominent things in the room were the portrait of the Presiprimo and the massive USaCoA flag hanging at the far end of the room.

"Why, hello, Commander Radix! I haven't seen you since your induction ceremony here!" a peppy and high-pitched voice drug me out of my growing contempt for the centers of attention.

"Mrs. Marquita Johannes!" Damien said to the older woman beaming at him. She appeared to have just finished dancing and had bumped into Damien, who was apparently a familiar face.

"So good to see you my dear! And who is this lovely specimen you have here?" she said while waving a finger at me. Being called a specimen set my nerves on fire. I desperately wanted to tell her that I was Earth's most feared criminal, but I bit my tongue.

"This is Miss Carolina Icarus. She agreed to join me tonight," Damien said politely, keeping up his act. I reminded myself of what I'd been taught about spying.

I smiled and gave Mrs. Johannes and quick curtsey, "A pleasure to meet you Mrs. Johannes."

She gave me an approving nod. "The pleasure is all mine, Miss Icarus. Now tell me, how on earth did you manage to catch the eye of the oblivious-to-women Commander Radix here?"

I smiled at her question and looked at Damien lovingly. It was only partially part of the act, "Simple. I just looked past our differences and straight to his true, inner personality. And let me tell you, beyond the impressive title and quite, calm demeanor, he is quite a character."

Mrs. Johannes gave a small, lady-like laugh and said, "I'll believe it when I see it. I must be off; my husband is waiting for me. So lovely to see you Commander Radix and a pleasure to meet you, Miss Icarus." And with that, the woman trotted off to her husband.

"How do you know her?" I asked Damien.

"It's a long story and not one to be told now," he said while we aimlessly shifted through the crowds.

"I'll want to hear it later," I said just before three more people walked up to greet us. These people I knew, along with everyone else in the country.

It was the Presiprimo, his wife, and son who was three years older than I was.

"Commander Radix! Lovely to see you could make it!" The Presiprimo said. I gave him a deep curtsy while Damien bowed to our 'oh-so-wise-and-powerful-leader'.

"Who do we have here?" the Presiprimo said after we rose out of our bow.

Damien cast me a caring and reassuring look, "This is the lovely Miss Carolina Icarus. I met her about three weeks ago and we've been courting for a while." The way he said courting made me nearly gag.

"Well, isn't that sweet. And does she speak?" the Presiprimo said teasingly.

"Yes, sir, I do," I said while trying to force the contempt and disgust for this man away.

"Well, Miss Icarus, I have a question for you."

"I'll answer it to the best of my ability, sir."

"Do you think my son will be worthy of the title of Presiprimo soon?"

I cast a worried glance at Damien, scared of where this could go. The Presiprimo's son, known as Presisecundo, gave his father a slightly puzzled look, and then directed a brilliant and annoyingly smug smile at me. I gulped, "Um, yes, yes sir. I think that, considering you're such a marvelous role model, he should be worthy of the throne very soon."

"Marvelous answer! And do you think he could take up a wife before or after that?" This conversation was not going where I wanted it to.

I gulped again, "Either would work, depending on if that girl is ready to be thrust into the political world."

The Presiprimo nodded thoughtfully. "Tell me, what would you say if my son asked you to take on such a role?"

My eyes went wide. The Presisecundo stifled a pleased laugh. The look on his face was too smug for my liking. I almost growled. "I couldn't say yes, I'm afraid."

"Well, why not?"

"I wouldn't be able to handle the pressure I don't think. And besides, I've got Commander Radix here." The Presisecundo cast Damien a jealous look. Damien puffed out his chest in pride and the Presiprimo just laughed.

"You must bring her here more often, commander. She's a riot!"

I forced a smile as the ruler and his family drifted away to other guests.

"Brilliant job. I would have crumbled under that kind of pressure," Damien murmured.

"Thanks. Let's just see if I can hold up for the rest of the night. So long as the Presiprimo's son doesn't corner me, I think I'll be fine."

Damien let out a laugh. Spying is hard. It's even harder when your target might see you as a target for something else.

AN:

Hi! Finally, a nice, long chapter... hopefully you enjoyed it because it took me forever to write! Anywho, the pictures are Cali's outfit (gorgeous!), the person it's dedicated to is a good friend of mine and encouraged me to write this chapter! Thanks, Ce-Ce! And please feel free to comment, vote, and follow! Until the next chapter!

DAYdreamer61401