Movements, Movements

  “No. You have only 15 minutes as per rudimentary procedures. Please, make use of that time and don't waste anymore.” Omar Preon responded right away. Stalling wasn't new to these chambers, especially since the second term.

  “Please,” senator Ol’ Pak tilted her head, speaking with the haughtiness that only belonged to herself. “It’s more than fair that I get this much time. Just 15 minutes is not enough— this is proof you Nfs and neutrals have turned this country into a dictatorship!”

  “Do not make false accusations. The rules in this chamber are to be respected by the senate and the presidency. If you wish to change the rules, you may try it when you’ve won over the presidency, and when the votes favor you. If you ever have that chance again.” Omar responded.

  “This is what I’m saying. See? They’re bending their rules whenever they want. Why did this never happen before? It’s simple. They are abusing their new-found power!” Ol’ Pak counterattacked. Her backhand on her hip as the camera focused between her and Omar.

  “Senator Ol’ Pak, I’m advising you to use the 15 minutes you do have, or sit down. Otherwise, you will be transgressing this chamber’s procedures, and your time will be taken down.” Omar Preon stated, facing his head down and shaking his head, eyeing the senator.

  “I demand these 30 minutes are given to me! There’s no rule that says I cannot have them. It’s in my right!” Senator Ol’ Pak’s words made Omar shut his eyes in embarrassment before talking to his glass microphone again. “There is, and as I warned you, you are violating and offending this high chamber. This is your last opportunity, or I will deny your proposal time.”

  “30 minutes is nothing to you. Haven’t you spent 12 years like this? Surely, you can lend not even a tenth of a day to us. Isn’t that what you were always promising? Power to everyone? Equal and balanced? It seems your lies have caught up with you!” Ol’ Pak added.

  Omar Preon shook his head, just unable to communicate with the opposition. He wrote a bit and grabbed a few documents before showing them to the camera recording the live feed to show to the senators in their seats. “This is the form to formally deny your proposal for misbehavior.”

  “Now, may the proposals from NF, and the 2 proposals from the neutral senators present them. You may choose any order you’d like— just discuss it amongst yourselves. You have 1 minute to do so.” Omar Preon rubbed his forehead and checked other documents in the meantime.

  The opposition was taken aback, left helpless. They couldn’t do anything, though. Other than noise, they could only wait as the neutrals and NF discussed. However, one person stood up from the neutrals, while everyone else who was supposed to discuss remained in their seats.

  “As a matter of fact, your presidency, we have discussed such a notion beforehand.” Sebastián Lara stood up, becoming the center of attention in or out of the chamber. Omar Preon frowned a bit, awaiting. Sebastián Lara continued, “We have decided that only one of us will speak.”

  “Oh, and for the allocated time.” Sebastián Lara remained standing, with the others in his side nodding and staring at the senate president. Sebastián added, “I would like to ask the president to confirm this and allow me to speak for all of us.”

  “Is this right? Have you decided to forgo off your proposals’ time? All except for Senator Sebastián Lara?” Omar Preon turned his mic on and questioned the ‘good bench’.

  “That’s right, your presidency.” - “Yes, we did!” - “This is everyone’s decision, senate president.” - “Yes, we have decided. Please let the senator speak, president.”

  Omar Preon nodded, receiving their confirmation. As for the opposition, other than exclaiming with loud noises and loud words, they were incapable to do anything else. Omar Preon nodded and looked left and right, which the opposition representatives in the presidency had long faces.

  They couldn’t do anything. If they were to attempt to stop this, then they would be considered to be the same as senator Ol’ Pak, who already made it difficult being pushy and negotiating with the presidency. There were no basis, as this was all acceptable within the norms.

  “You may begin those 15 minutes, then.” Omar Preon voiced before focusing on the paperwork on his desk. Sebastián Lara nodded and walked to the podium, which covered anyone’s sides and front well, showing only from their upper torso to the top of their heads.

  Being taller, it showed more of Sebastián’s body, while the microphone was mechanically elevated form within. He carried no documents, nothing, with him, only his clothes.

  “In the past few weeks, we’ve seen the result of the government the 3rd term President, 2nd consecutive term, President Luis Heartez, has made out of Lymoca. Forget about all the things they’ve told you or spoke of here. What matters is what you see around you, and what you hear from people who are breathing, living, and not swarmed by tonnes of credits every new task job.”

  “The country has improved. Fight it back however you want, because the rest are enjoying it, are starting to experience it.” Sebastián lowered his head and lifted it back up, returning with, “Many have critiqued the SCJ’s reforms, which are going to have an unprecedented worldwide record.”

  “As of right now, despite the things that have happened so far, more than 1,000 people have checked in, physical or digital, some both, and went through the requirements. They have signed up to become elected for the replacements taking place in a few months, more so in a year.”

  “It is estimated that about 70,000 people sign up to this. Is this not enough to show the difference from before to now? Hundreds of years, the same SCJ, with its only changes being how many supreme ministers there would be, and funding.” Sebastián said in an admonishing tone.

  The opposition felt his gaze, and it wasn’t a comfortable one. He continued, “But that’s only the beginning. With Terka’s addition, their full acceptance in 2 years would bring this to more parts of the world. Our laws are theirs now, and so are ‘our’ social programs. We are one.”

  “With this, I can finally address the initiative in question.” Sebastián’s words made the opposition’s noise quiet down, but only a bit. “Terka was a sign there is something happening to the south. Not because the southerners are doing something wrong, but because those in higher ‘seats of power’ are in the move against them.”

  “Yet, the people in the south know nothing about it. Only between governments. That’s the only way this unknown party can use to destroy the peace that has been brewing for hundreds of years. We, Lys— Lymoca, we are different.”

  “We don’t go after their governments. We still have to make sure we have good relations with everyone, but we don’t throw our dignity in order to make a colleague of every government, especially when they don't value us.”

  “In Lymoca, we don’t want to govern other people for others. In Terka, we didn’t just fight for revenge. We did it to rid the Lys there of a leading circle dancing in the palms of others! So they wouldn’t have to wonder when would the next ‘big’ thing be.”

  “I may sound weak and unconvincing, but it’s simpler the more you realize what is happening.” Sebastián paused. His expression honest and berating to those still doubting, whoever those might be. “We go after the people. Their people. Our people.”

  “We didn’t undress Terka, grab what we wanted, and then let it go. We’re compromised to take care of it as we do with every other piece of land and water in Lymoca. It won’t change— unless the Lys want it to be so. With Argopolas and Melenon… it’s said it’s the government they say they are after, but it’s the people they are attacking.” He laid it out and paused before continuing.

  Sebastián Lara went on, demonstrating the differences between Cerka and Torka to Lymoca’s motives, and what they wanted. Lymoca even received the distress letters, so they had a formal justification already. But it still wasn’t what Sebastián aimed at.

  Lymoca has never intervened. When the empire was thriving, it was limited in the expeditions of conquest. Now, despite many saying it was regression, Sebastián made them see they were refusing to aid a sister country because of ‘pride’ and law-abiding behavior.

  When such things costed more lives than facilitating their livelihoods, and let them suffer for their personal good, which won?

  “Thank you, senator Lara, for not using more time than the allocated.” Omar Preon spoke into the microphone as Sebastián walked away with a light ‘thank you’. Sebastián looked back and nodded. Then, Omar spoke to the other seats beside him before opening his mic again.

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  “Now, we will vote if this initiative has been debated enough, only needing a majority for confirmation.” Omar Preon declared. The screen behind the senate presidency stands went from black to showing the names of all 100 senators.

  The voting had begun. It didn’t take long, even though the timer said 3 minutes, it ended in less than 26 seconds, with more than 80% voting in favor. The presidency readily listed the procedures, with Omar Preon declaring again.

  “The votes are concise. Now, we will vote… for the approval of this initiative, and sending forces to relieve Argopolas and Melenon of all unjust and illegal wars against their people.” Omar Preon’s throat trembled in the middle, becoming resolute afterwards.

  In a way, Omar’s attitude reflected in NF and the neutrals’ side. They were nervous, too. About to make history, only not knowing what side of history. The voting began, with the outcome being decided a minute later, with 2 leftover minutes. It was a monumental in favor to the President and his cabinet’s initiative, and when it was confirmed, it thundered across Lymoca.

  … Walking out of the congress building, with plans to have dinner and… drink a lot, albeit moderately, Sebastián and a little blonde, beautiful and breathtaking, slim young woman walked together, slightly separated from the rest.

  “How do you think it’s gonna be after their mobilization starts?” Clara Metelti asked, carrying a fat bag over her shoulder, resting on her hip and side of her thigh. Sebastián looked at this before staring into her sparkling green eyes.

  “I have no idea, and I’m glad. Too much to know about that which is completely new, although not to our little human society throughout Orders.” Sebastián answered, facing her and stopping as the others walked a bit far away from them, heading to PVTs and off to a restaurant or bar.

  “But I think I’ll have to learn someday.” Sebastián added. Clara looked at him, her eyes dancing a bit. “Are you planning to end up as a President someday, too? Isn’t it embarrassing for you? Look at the President’s age, you’re like his uncle.”

  “Hey!” Sebastián smiled, internally chuckling before poking the tip of Clara’s nose. She sent her lower lip into her mouth, still with her eyes upturned. “I’m not sure if I’ll go that far. Maybe if I don’t get bored. But higher than a senator? Yes.”

  “Oh yeah?” Clara asked, narrowing her cute little eyes. Sebastián lifted his eyebrows, looking down at the sweet looking baby young woman. “Oh, of course. What am I gonna do when you become a senator, too? And then, a senate president? I can’t just… be there, too, right?”

  “Tsk,” Clara scoffed. “So what. You are pressured by the revolting thought of having the same role as me in the government? That’s what’s making you tingle to go higher?”

  “Of course I am!” Sebastián looked down at her and kept his eyebrows up. “I don’t dare step on the same step together, that’s so… ugh! I should be able to boss you around. What kind of… man would I be, if not?”

  Clara lifted her eyebrows this time, looking at the man’s smile when looking down at her, their chests touching each other, and shoes beside one another.

  “We should go to another meal… okay, well, date. And maybe… be a little more free?” Sebastián became dumbfounded for a good while. Clara noticed, but she hardly saw this sight of him, and with light still illuminating their faces from all sides. She let him enjoy her as she enjoyed him.

  “…!” Suddenly, under her disbelieving gaze, Sebastián lifted his hand and cupped her jaw. He drew his face closer. Clara’s green eyes constricted, but her little heart moved too fast, waking her from her stupor to say, “Are you aware what your actions are? In public…”

  “Mn.” Sebastián exclaimed before lowering his head without a care. Clara remained rooted to the spot, receiving his lips and light kiss, lasting over 2 seconds before the moving meat of their lips separated, a bit dry.

  “… huff, huff.” Clara’s chest heaved up and down after their kiss. Sebastián continued looking at her, not bringing his face or eyes to the side, not even with a tilt. She garnered her breath before speaking, “You’ve only kissed me twice, and in small restaurants barely anyone goes to at night.”

  Her voice was like a mosquito, emotive yet whispering with the tightness of the stress she put on this situation, which was majorly decreasing by the second. Sebastián dumbly mumbled, “Mhm.”

  “…” Clara looked up at him, her eyes relaxing as she took half a step closer, their bodies up against each other. “It was pecks then, too. It’s always been so carefully. What about now?”

  “It won’t matter if I do this to my future wife, no?” Sebastián replied. He grabbed her waist and pulled her into another kiss. After their more ‘moving’, dynamic exchange, he looked down at her and added, “I was waiting for no reason. I realize that now… I just don’t care anymore.”

  “Heehee.” They kissed again, with Clara becoming more active, sounding a smack as their lips separated again. Without notice, she jumped onto him, her legs straddling him with her arms all tight around his neck, resting on his shoulders as they became obvious and a sight to behold.

  “Wait, this is a bit too much. I didn’t mean…” Sebastián held her back, briefly grazing his hands on her bum. But this was too public! Like a devil, Clara kept smiling, looking down at him for the first time, and what a method she used to do so instead of the usual.

  “Shhh. You said you didn’t care anymore.” Clara kissed him, more and more, with more tongue action and even a bit of psychological support moaning. Sebastián managed to stifle a worry out of his ecstatic mouth, “But your father, he’ll…”

  “Oh, hush.” Clara locked her arms around his head, keeping his face tightly close to hers, “Just make him a grandpa and you will be juuuust fine!”

  “…!?” Sebastián widened his eyes, his body shaken with excitement he struggled to find at the beginning. He let go, grabbing onto Clara’s sides and giving a show to the peepers who have had hoped Clara remained as the pure holy maiden in their hearts.

  . . .

  Presidential precinct, war room. After the lengthy meeting.

  Luis supported himself on the central table, with all the others already having something written on, or maps. The central table had the general ‘war map’, with the 4, now 5, countries in the war participating in it. Lymoca had the murky green, with Argopolas and Melenon the light green, bright even. Cerka and Torka had a pale, light blue color instead.

  Step, step, step. Fox’s solid footsteps sounded from the outside. It was obvious to Luis who was waiting. The President took a few letters from his jacket’s rear and placed them on the map, which remained unaffected by the physical movement.

  “Did you need me, Presi?” Fox walked around the corner and looked at Luis, stopping at the doorstep. Luis nodded, beckoning him with his head, “Come here, I need to free my mind from some things.”

  “Mm.” Fox exclaimed and walked to Luis. Standing beside the President, Fox tilted his head, staring at the letters with Zyckevele’s Blackeyed Bear symbol, KAA’s Flying Mystic symbol, several southern countries in Moonblue, Iztos, Xeoxia, even Gracia and Safe Haven City.

  “These arrived an hour ago, and into my pockets a little earlier.” Luis crossed his arms. Fox looked at him with side eyes before necessarily interrupting with his usual tone, “And why contact me? I’m not even external relations or at least in the cabinet anymore. Your daughter runs NF for me and you. Here nor this is my place or task.”

  “Because I am training you. I am not asking you if you want this or that. Now, shut up, or I’ll call your daddy. I’m gonna tell him you’re having issues paying attention,” Luis answered as a matter of factly. Fox jumped his eyebrows and grimaced a momentary scowl.

  “Pick them,” Luis gestured to the letters. Fox didn’t bother fighting it. He looked down at them and grabbed the Zyckevele letter first, unnecessarily damaging the symbol at the side before opening it. Meanwhile, Fox commented, “Are they bothering with interfering again?”

  “No. They won’t try something we’ll obviously say no to twice. Before, it was politeness, relations for a possible alliance, and undermining.” Luis commented back. He shook his head, a little. “They’ve seen us fight now. They don’t undermine us.”

  “They also know an alliance will be direct war, seeing how ANS is behaving nowadays… I didn’t see their letter.” Fox worded, starting to read Zyckevele’s letter. Luis sighed from his nostrils, heavy and lengthy. “If there was one, it’ll be delayed another 50 years before a ‘public recognition’ so they can call it a proper apology, to ‘lower’ like us, in another term.”

  “Moreover,” Luis walked around a little, taking a bottle of liquor from under the central table. Fox lifted his left eyebrow and cocked his head, “Didn’t know this was multipurpose. No thanks.”

  “It’s made from herbal essences… from Lypros.” Luis casually spoke, but his words were like soft whispers of a devil tempting the young and thirsty. Fox slowly drew his face to Luis and stared at the bottle. He nodded before resuming his analysis on the letter.

  “They definitely don’t see us as lower forces, like ANS has done.” Fox stated before lowering the letter, extending his hand to grab the small glass with a strange, exquisite smell from the new liquor. Luis parted the glass from Fox’s fingers. Looking up at the President, Fox’s serious polycoria eyes did the asking.

  “Pick all of them, don’t just read one and throw it away. Tell me what they say, and what you think should be done. At least give me your thoughts if you don’t know, okay?” Luis said before returning the glass to Fox’s reaching hand. Fox brusquely grabbed the liquor before smelling it.

  “Haah,” Fox exaggeratedly breathed out, further tasting its smell. Giving it a sip, his polycoria eyes relaxed, and for the first time, he liked liquor. Then, he gave his ‘father-in-law’ a glare before picking KAA’s letter.

  Before reading the second letter, Fox depicted the contents of the first. Subsequently, Fox explained the motives of the letters. From the ‘other 2’ and ‘second best’ countries in the world, to Cors, Iztos, Safe Haven City, the ‘Islands’, and the close by Endesa and Carnge.

  They all expressed their doubts, but not towards Lymoca’s actions. Rather, they showed worry in the ‘health’ of their country, especially after Terka’s integration, nearly at 100% secured. Most displayed their support, even though it only seemed to be from promises for now.

  Zyckevele and the Knight Assembly Association were a bit different. Luis seemed to have a deal with some southern countries, from what Fox could deduct. PSD was practically in those countries, which Fox already knew were working together with the hoogs of those countries. He just didn’t know what they were doing and never bothered to ask.

  Zyckevele and KAA had something in common. They wanted their hoogs, those directly bounded to the government, to work together directly. There has been such cooperation in the past, especially during the surge of the secret world like never before, giving rise to special agents, lagjs, and hoogs. But not as observational and national-defense mattering as this.

  It was like military, navy, and air forces’ exercises, only that they were meant to increase the coordination between their countries’ special agents. This could happen with no one the wiser. Piya Sanctum District was one of the greatest hoogs of all times, after all.

  But they weren’t the only countries to have hoogs with at least 1 bounded to the government. Furthermore, while they wouldn’t be discovered, even if all of ANS’s hoogs were put in motion, as long procedures were used, it didn’t mean KAA or Zyckevele’s hoogs couldn’t detect it on weaker hoogs.

  Fox’s resume made Luis frown, who felt the same as Raging Blood, an incoming movement for an unknown motive, but not with an unknown force behind it…

  “So… this Paved Road and Heart Lake are willing to a cooperation such as this. What does the President say?” Fox wiggled both Zyckevele and Knight Assembly Association’s letters in the air. Luis rolled his eyes. Fox shrugged and pressed his lips before adopting a pensive visage with his eyes regularly pacing left and right.

  …