Excerpt: Revolution: Countdown

The next morning proved difficult for Paige. She had stayed up late thinking about her mother and the letter that mysteriously appeared in her apartment. She called the building’s security supervisor who had firmly stated no breaches were made in the twelve hours prior to her arriving home. There was no explanation for how the letter arrived in her apartment and it was quite disturbing. She knew the letter was from her mother, but not knowing how her parents placed it in her apartment made her question the few things she knew about them.
When she went to the office that morning, she was still slightly frazzled, thinking about the letter. Her parents had kept a secret from her they said and she wondered what the secret could possibly be. Realistically she knew it could be just about anything because she barely knew them, but she was also trying to think in a logical manner.
“Is something wrong?” Paige looked up. She had sat at her desk and just stared at the computer, not noticing that Andy had walked in. He was casually dressed, wearing a scarlet button-up silk shirt and black slacks. His dirty blond hair was slicked back, but even so, it made him an imposing figure at just over 6 feet tall and 170 pounds.
She took a deep breath, tried to smile, but she knew it was weak. He came to kneel beside her. Concern was pouring from his body and his face was contorted in a look of the deepest worry.
“What happened, Paige?”
She looked away from him and away from the concern in his eyes. She had never really told him much about her parents. “I found a letter in my apartment last night when I got home. It was from my mother.”
“Your mother?”
Paige nodded. “I haven’t spoken to her since Ethan’s celebration in Munich. Anyway, she and my father are coming for a visit.”
“When?”
“Next week. She didn’t say how long they would be here, but she said they have some big secret to tell me.”
“And it’s bothering you,” he noted with concern. He stroked her hand.
“Of course it is. I don’t know what they could possibly have to say to me now after all these years.”
“They hate the life you chose.”
She shrugged and put her head in her hands. “I just don’t know what to do, Andy.”
“I don’t think you have to do anything. Whatever they’re coming here for is their own business and you don’t have to pay any attention to it or to them.”
“I wish it was that easy,” she answered, looking at him with a smile.
“It is. Don’t make yourself available to them, don’t let them know what hours you’re working. If you want, I can get permission for you to stay at my apartment until they leave so you won’t be home if they stop by.”
Because they had exceeded their apartment visits for the quarter, Andy had to go get special permissions from his father for her to be able to come over. One of the morality laws of the Federation allowed no unauthorized visits to the apartments or homes of the opposite sex and only 9 visits allowed for each person per three month period. If a person of the opposite sex needed to stay the night, they had to be interviewed by FCI and sign agreements that no sexual intercourse or relations of any kind will be performed. There were no exceptions. If any of the morality clauses agreed to were broken, the involved parties were sentenced to six months in prison for the first offense. Many people found the clauses harsh, but it kept down on pre-marital sex, pedophilia, and rape, theoretically. Because Andy and Paige were highly ranked within the FCI, they were able to get away with some things such as specially authorized visits and sex if they so wanted.
The morality clauses were one of the best implements of the president. They covered everything from religion to sex to proper television programming. They allowed for a moral society based on commonly accepted views and ideas. People questioned the clauses and those who questioned too much were silenced in some way, usually sent to Moral Camp to learn the value of the clauses.
“I don’t think that’s necessary,” she answered Andy. She didn’t want to go to Andy’s father and explain to him the reason she didn’t want to stay home. She knew he would probably give permission but she also knew she needed to see her parents. With the war beginning to come to a close, there was no predicting what would happen to anyone.
“Why not?” he asked.
“I need to see them. Andy, they’re supporters of the Americans. This could be the last time I get to see them.”
“If you’re sure.”
“I am.” I think, she said silently to herself.
“Okay. I’ll talk to father and clear the way, regardless. If something gets too much, just come over to my place. I’ll be there and I’ll let you have the bed.”
“I think I’ll be fine,” she responded with a smile. Andy was always the gentleman. It was one of the reasons she loved him. Her needs were always put first.
“Okay, if you’re sure,” he said standing up. “Let’s get coffee and then we have a meeting.”
“What about?” she asked, standing up guided by his hand.
“Change of plans. Conley is attacking on the west coast. Father wants us to lead an offensive against him before they strike.”
“Conley’s an idiot,” she said unprovoked. “He has to know he can’t win.”
“He does,” Andy said. “He just refuses to give up. Must think there’s something worth saving in the cesspool that was America.”
“I doubt it,” she said, but wasn’t clear on whether she doubted Andy’s assessment or his statement.