What Will It Be?

  Everyone sat around the main table in the war room. As they did, numerous people talked to each another, wondrous to what did this bring, and curious enough to guess, but only in their minds.

  “It's been a decent choice, really.” - “How would you say the odds are for in the next 4 years? I still want to take part in when the 'iron' is hot and well seated.” - “Right. I also have something to say about that.” - “It's been just hell. The only ones moving so freely to Dawn are Lymocan ships, and those other ones for that matter. Sigh.” - “If only there wasn't a lot of strange discontent.” - “Pfft. And rumors.” - “Well, at least we're doing good.” - “If we aren't, no one could. Are you kidding, or what?”

  Once seated, the president looked at the ceiling for a moment before standing up. Everyone quieted down, and with their butts tightening for a moment, they heard his following words.

  “It’s been for a while that the data only us people can read through are becoming scary numbers for the following years. It doesn’t end well. More so, the south isn’t looking up the north anymore. We are… outside their expectations.”

  Gant looked at everyone before continuing with squinted, old eyes, “Believe it or not. The campaign against our country’s image was not for naught. We are not breaking in a decade. We are already broken. It’s just several years are needed for the people to go through realizing, doing something about it, and the government failing.”

  “I must say,” the president sat back down, unable to remain standing for so long. “I won’t be there to face it. I will be in my new bed to turn to ashes, after I’m eaten by the worms, mostly. It won’t be my time to see this country honestly fail in the future. Because we are also already failing.”

  “But you will, and there will be a lot of work. Hm. I guess some advice to deal with dangerous, lethal masses for then should be planned from already.” Gant nodded, feeling at ease with himself. Earl fell genuinely worried like the rest, with his eyes widened and his lollipop stiff.

  But Earl Comfor calmed down soon after and continued to suckle on his lollipop. Gant Comfor saw the look on everyone before slightly nodding to himself, “That’s why I’m bringing you something to think about… and decide on the same night.”

  “Here are these options. We must adhere to them, and no matter what your choice will be, they bring us to the same historic revolution, one way or another. We will write history, the world will— about this decision for ages. Until the end of our humanity, and the start of another, or our’s evolution.” Gant grabbed a pair of thin folders with and passed it to the vice president.

  She grabbed them, nodded with respect, and placed them at the center of the table. There, Laen Worfield, his usual ‘side’ when talking of important matters, and Garalf Stient, were seated facing each other. The vice president didn’t waste time to explain as the folders’ titles spoiled it all.

  “These are the options planted by our president,” she purposely revealed one to each, both more according to their traits. “We can either choose to ally with Lymoca, become the alliance feared by all of the world, and which will bring our Moonblue supercontinent to a stand. Larger than Twilight, and even with Dawn, whom won’t be able to reach us.”

  Laen looked at his folder but felt trepidation from the other, which Garalf seemed too brazen not to open, but he restrained himself with this marvelous, timely opportunity. Ola Colano looked at both before resting her indifferent yet pitying gaze on senator spokesperson Laen Worfield.

  “It won’t only be in name, or military defense. ANS and Lymoca will be one. Our entire supercontinent’s credit regulation would boost to the ‘fantastical’ most stable and beneficial economy across the globe. Our technology would advance quicker, and we’ll thrive for things the world only dreams of nowadays. Our chances are… thriving.”

  “Or… we can opt to solve this issue by ourselves. Deal with this scenario and continue doing so in the future. This time, with most of our side of the world in our hands, and to our gracious command. And so…” Ola Colano gave Garalf a glance, who was too engrossed with ‘his’ folder.

  She returned her eyes to the prominent young man and went, “We declare war on Lymoca. All of Lymoca. And we bring the reins of Moonblue back to our Aggregated Nation States.”

  “As it should have been since the 5th century, cough!” The president coughed after speaking with his old voice. But that voice sounded a lot like the hearts and minds of their envisioned glory for the future ‘if they had the power’.

  Laen saw this, and thus, he immediately thought for the worst. He looked at the senate president Heyn Poetswalt and his right-hand senator Asla Veyson to the seats on his left. They also had expressions that knew what was going on, but that they were being given a chance, or they wouldn’t even been here.

  Asla tightened her fists and looked at the president’s direction and Garalf and bit her lip, so Heyn had to nod at Laen to encourage him before standing up. “As the senate president, I recommend as our president has mentioned. We deal with this decision now.”

  “I agree.” Senator Garalf Stient stood up and nodded, his visage serious. Laen stood up as well, “I vote for the same.”

  “Me too.” - “I think we all believe in this.” - “There should be this talk, and it will be done now. I also vote for this!” - “… I believe all of us agree, or at least 9 out of 10 people. Shall we proceed?”

  “…” The war room fell silent. The last person to stand up and talk his mind was none other than Earl Comfor, of those who did. Asla Veyson couldn’t stand up, and her breathing had become ragged. Her eyes also seemed lost, but when Earl talked, even she snapped out of it to snap her eyes off at the president’s son.

  It was fine up until now. But now that Earl had stood up like this… Gant Comfor’s eyes shook a bit, and he swung his chin side to side a little, but he hid it before lifting his hand to gesture. “You have 25 minutes to discuss this folder with whomever thinks whichever option is better.”

  The president then dropped his arm, almost sounding heavy on the table before retracting. Laen was rapidly approached before he opened his folder. The same situation occurred with Garalf. Like before, Laen had more people with him, while Garalf only had some people around his seat.

  However, that was only at first. After 15 minutes, with everyone having gone through a brief introduction, some people walked over to Garalf. They mostly ignored Laen when they changed their alignment, not even daring to say a thing, let alone look at them.

  But a few more people did the same as time went on. Some appeared invested in the alliance option at the beginning, others glanced over at the declaration of war’s side from time to time. But even the former would choose to walk away from Laen.

  By the time the 25 minutes were up, Garalf had a lot more of people, from 20/80 and 25/75 at worse, Garalf now counted with 40% of the war room’s members. Laen looked at the other side after he finished while everyone returned to their seats.

  The ‘traitors’ who changed sides spoke to their neighboring chairs, drawing some attention to themselves. Only when the president spoke did this chatter, which left Laen anxiously stepping his right heel under the table, stop and helped everyone focus back to their matter.

  “You have decided enough.” Gant lifted his hand briefly, “These subjects have been discussed since the Lylaco Empire fell in our minds, in the government’s possibilities. Just as a resuming war to take over Lymoca has been cast in here, with discretion, multiple times over these hundreds of years. We have also proposed to ourselves to ally with them.”

  “You have had all the pre-preparation you would have needed if we were other countries in Moonblue. Now, debate.” President Gant Comfor lifted his chin with an attitude, scrunching his glabella for a bit, and showing his teeth in a sudden aggressive image.

  Laen nodded, as Garalf did, but this time with a notorious smile. Laen felt direct trepidation now, but he tried not to let it be seen on the outside. His close aids expected a lot from him, and he had a lot to give. Of course, Garalf was not going to give away this opportunity neither.

  It was already a lot to have brought it, then fail, as it occurs every several decades. His opportunity, in a lifetime for that matter considering his age, was gone. But now… Garalf was not going to fail this time, not with how things changed since the last time this was proposed!

  And thus, the debate began. Laen was decisive and determined like before, but back then, the situation wasn’t unfavorable to ANS. Regardless of how right Laen was, the need to do something drastic and be victorious with it instead of passively planning as so far, drew them.

  Laen was still an improved Laen from back then, however. Despite how much Garalf tempted with his words, the current situation, and what ANS was capable of, someone well-trained and prepared like Laen, with his vision, couldn’t be deterred by situations.

  If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  The word was with Laen, but the temptation and recuperation of a standard value in an ‘instant’ drew by far too much unto Garalf’s side.

  4 hours later, the assembly came to a conclusion. Besides the 40% that Garalf had at the beginning, comprised of Laen’s side recent traitors, some more left Laen and joined the declaration of war’s proposals, although they did not give Garalf the credit for joining in.

  Little by little, the war room reached a stalemate until the voting came to the table. It was an ample, overwhelming 50/50. Laen couldn’t believe it, while Garalf was about to jump off his seat and start begging the president and vice president. Only they hadn’t voted, and each was valued as 1 vote.

  With a tired motion to stand up, the president was helped by the vice president before tiringly declaring his vote after sighing…

  ***

  Lymoca, Proteros. PSD’s HQ. Critical state’s medical rooms. Raging Blood’s specialized and team-focused healthroom. Year 1,029th, 1st month, 2nd week, and 3rd day.

  Fox slowly woke up. This time, he was glad to see it wasn’t another routine check of his head’s organs functioning and response. It wasn’t needed, as he was able to move his body and wake up, albeit his body was pained to no end still. It was just to get him used to life again.

  The mental fortitude wasn’t needed anymore. Fox’s body was out of such torment, and it was even complete, so to speak. Thus, he didn’t enter ‘numb states’ to save his sorry ass from dying of a heart attack or mental distress anymore.

  Instead of seeing doctors, and however pretty the female nurses were, they weren’t his beloved wives. He now saw more than his wives alone. It could have been better, only getting to see them, but it was fine.

  Luis, Butler, and even Lesly accompanied him. There were also Teon, Colmillo, and Mena, Mona, and the silly young woman Fabiola. Of course, Vanessa wouldn’t miss this. It looked like Fox was ambushed while he was in his worst. Unforgivable.

  “Is this for me?” Fox weakly said. He didn’t expect his voice to be this fragile and under the breath. They didn’t either, from their looks. Esmeralda walked forth and sat beside him, with Nala following her steps. Nala pushed Esme a little closer to him with her hips, to let her hold his face.

  “I know it’s not just your favorite nurses, but you had to do with this. We wanted to see you and no one could, you know?” Teon voiced, complaining and glad to see her brother do well.

  “Hm, don’t need anyone.” Fox looked at her and blew a bit from his nostrils. Esme narrowed her eyes and shook her head a few gentle bits. But neither she nor Nala were in the mood to banter. They just wanted to be with him.

  “Your work in the east is just good, and Radical Wars are drawing to a close. There are some requests for aiding with their suddenly growing organized crime, but you can take care of that in a few months after recuperating.” Luis walked forth a few steps as he spoke.

  “Can you stop? He’s just woken up, and you’re bombarding him with that.” Lesly grabbed her man’s shoulder and stopped him. Luis smirked, gesturing to the bedridden young man. “It’s what he wanted to hear, but he wouldn’t ask that to his wives. Look at him.”

  “Tsk. Like I didn’t know. Come here!” Lesly dragged the beloved President of hundreds of millions away from Fox’s bed, letting the others come closer. Vanessa was the first Fox looked at after gazing away from his wives. She looked down at him with her azure eyes, just analyzing him.

  “People miss Heavensbane.” Vanessa said. Fox closed his eyes, tired and pained, with a smirk. “That’s so… Fox was just fine. What Heavensbane? Those people…”

  “Let them see you whenever you can. You have no idea how I feel now that you are fine, and here. Half the Lys in the entirety of Moonblue want to know about your whereabouts. Worried about you, mm.” Vanessa stopped at this point. Fox just looked at her before she added, “You must be more careful from now on. Whatever they did to you…”

  “I know, that’s true.” Fox nodded a bit. Then, as soon as he was given away by Vanessa, Teon, Mena, and Colmillo assaulted him with their chatter, destroying Fox in his most vulnerable state.

  After what seemed like a new eternal torture, Fox was left alone. Morena and Vanessa talked to him again. They were both thinking of him every day since he was gone. Now, they felt especially at ease. They wanted to bring him everywhere to fill his belly, not knowing he hadn’t eaten for such a long time. Such terrible conditions haven’t been known to even them as of yet.

  At last, Fox spent a couple of hours while Luis and Lesly watched from afar. Butler returned upstairs to spread the news that Fox was back and healthy. Esmeralda was almost teary all of the time, like her heart was the one pulled out again and again.

  Fox couldn’t believe to some point that he was no longer getting his body pulled out and back in of his organs and bones. The memories of his skull and around every organ being a tremendous source of pain…

  “Do you mind leaving me with the bossy one outside?” Fox requested after holding their hands without letting go all this long. They exchanged a glance, with Nala seemingly expecting something from Esmeralda, but in the end, Esme looked down at him and nodded.

  She pecked his lips and cupped his neck, saying before letting go, “There are many more missing from these, okay? You didn’t have your chance to ‘put’ your sperm on the bank yet.”

  Nala shook her head with slightly drooped eyelids. Even now, Esme had enough in her to be bad at these moments. Esme stood beside the bed, letting Nala peck his lips a few times, quite some times. By the time Nala was done, she kissed his forehead and eskimo kissed him before letting go. She wouldn’t be convinced without intensely looking into his polycoria, untouched eyes, of course.

  They walked out. Esmeralda notified her father while Lesly chatted with Nala for a bit before leaving with them. Then, Luis entered the room. It was only the two of them now.

  Fox stared at Luis, seemingly expecting something. Luis had rumbling emotions and many thoughts, all of them gladdened that Fox was back, alive, and healthier. He walked to his bed as Fox opened his mouth, “It seems like the peaceful expansion is going well.”

  “They are all well.” Luis nodded. Then, he grabbed a sheet from the side and began reading, sneaking glances to Fox to see his reaction, “These are the things we now know about your body, Fox. It’s… it’s such a new invention we could only dream of before. The world, I mean.”

  “Your body has been mixed with ultra processed Mintip. That is a quick simplification. Your organs were left alone but still ‘enhanced’ with ‘thin traces’ of ultra Mintip, unlike your bones and your skin. Even though your skin is the same as before, it was removed so many times that the new one scrapped off the old while you were unconscious.”

  “Even then… you have a natural body still… The dreamy theory of natural yet bion bodies was… successful, now, I suppose.” Luis looked at the sheet with lost focus.

  “They failed, actually.” Fox looked at the ceiling as he commented. Luis looked at him, with Fox continuing, “The only reason it wasn’t evident was because of me. I… my body is a… well, there was someone I knew that mentioned it as evolution, even before Dr. Valle.”

  “She was right. I never cared much about it. Even my left arm was just an empowered version of what was left from my arm…” Fox was calm and remained casual. “But as they added more and more, I felt like my heart calcinated and cracked, dividing endlessly before it wedged itself again. The more foxes they… embedded into me, the more those characteristics became precedent.”

  “If it wasn’t me… for my… body’s evolution from when I was younger, then none of this would have ever happened. The person tested wouldn’t go past one fragment of their bones, a small one, returning to a warm body for more than half a day. Ultra processed Mintip is just a better-off metal, not an ingredient to make life.”

  “… Your sexual organs were intact as well. But your body now seems… too complicated to reproduce. Before, it was notorious that it was almost not going to happen, but now… You are still capable of begetting children, but using the traditional way is no longer… as efficient.”

  “What do you think?” Fox asked. Luis looked at him before slightly frowning, “There is engineering in everything. With Pugor engines, the technology is advancing fast, but so are the bright minds. There might be a way in a decade to help you give birth to offspring with my daughter and Nala.”

  “Mm…” Fox hummed a little. Luis looked at the sheet again, “The strength perceived back then matches some recent studies. But back then, your body was like iron barely leaving the mold. Now, you have been quenched and fully rested. Not only is your entire body a moving NUA yet natural, if only slightly heavier. Your sheer, raw might is… you are the definitive special agent.”

  “I get it. I won’t use this towards anyone but Lymoca and the District’s enemies.” Fox nodded and moved his head a bit, rolling his eyes. Luis politely articulated a smile.

  “What happened to the chosen who were killed in my kidnapping?” Fox frowned a little, staring at the ceiling with an unmoving head and eyes. Luis lowered his gaze before answering, “Ashes and back to their families. All 20 were found… with difficulty, but it happened. The K Tribe nations has had communication with KAA, but it seems shaky still. They are too scared, even if we give them arsenal.”

  “Thanks,” Fox expressed. Luis said nothing, nodding before thinking of leaving. Just then, Fox stared at him and spoke, “How is Lymoca defending against the north?”

  “Why would you think of that?” Luis immediately caught up to what he referred to. Fox casually blinked before elaborating, “I killed most of their Lean Shoured and Enigma hoog secret organizations’ people in that base. That’s a big hit.”

  “PSD will face that option. There’s been movements to prevent any other incident from the past.” Luis explained. He was calm and patient, but while Fox seemed without emotion, he pressed on. “That’s fine and well. What about ANS, not CG or FE?”

  “…” Luis looked at Fox with serious, sharp gray-black eyes. Before he could voice ‘what do you mean?’ out of courtesy, Fox worded, “That alone would make any country angry. All ANS’s hoogs are connected to them, only FE and CG are bound to the country.”

  “If someone attacked PSD and downed ? of its numbers, equal conversion of resources, would you just leave it to the District to deal with it? You wouldn’t.” Fox answered his question himself with a tilt of his head. Luis’s eyebrows twitched a few bits.

  “I will check those matters, Fox, yes.” Luis blinked after looking up at Fox’s eyes. He straightened his back and further stated, “You focus on recuperating. We’ll need you however you can be used. After resolving the organized crime in the east… we will take those northern hoogs down for what they’ve done. Before and now, to Lymoca and you.”

  “I do hear that,” Fox nodded with an expressionless face, satisfied. Luis nodded and turned to leave, but while he was still turning, Fox further requested. “One last thing, can you bring me my book?”

  “…” Luis tilted his head in askance. Fox explained, “The one from Terka. That archaic, almost lost book with records we haven’t figured yet. I’d like to read more.”

  “Sure thing,” Luis nodded before elegantly walking out of the healthroom. Fox rested his head back on the pillow, his head all filled with not many things, but all so important… and complex.

  …