Deliver Us Huis

I looked in the shiny reflective surface of the window as I awaited my turn on camera. Hair straight, makeup perfect, posture erect.

I got this.

Next to me Caliban sat, looking at the two newscasters who were shuffling papers, straightening chairs, getting ready for the debate. I kept sneaking glances at him out of the corner of my eye.

His hair was dark grey, and his skin the traditional Huisic pale white.

And his eyes were blue, a constant blue, which confused me. Huisic eyes were all purple, though the color changed with emotion, they were blue when sad, faded to green when scared, and flashed red when angry.

But his were a constant blue. Was he truly sad all the time, or was he wearing contacts that made him look constantly sad? Was this some sort of psychological trick? His face was still, giving away nothing.

I shook my head, I couldn’t let his eyes, any color, get to me. I needed to be as confident and poised. I was this people’s future ruler, and now was a good time to start acting like it.

One of the newscasters came over, “We’re going live in five minutes. find your way to your seats and get settled. Good luck.”

Both Caliban and I rose and made our way to the plush red chairs, and sat behind a large table like desk.

Breathe, you can do this. You are way more able than this dull government official. You are way more competent, way more gifted.

You are Telyina.

You are strong.

Soon the whole planet will know your name.

“Going live in two minutes,” A newscaster yelled, and the camera’s started to roll towards us. The lead newscaster took his place, shuffling through his notes.

“Good luck,” said Caliban, I looked over to see him smiling.

I tried to fix him with my most icy, intimidating gaze, “Good luck to you as well, General.”

In front of me someone started to yell, “All quiet on the set, going live in 3, 2, 1.”

I sat up straight and smiled wide, trying to exude confidence.

The newscaster in front of us started talking, “”Hello, this is Indiga Monite and welcome back to Channel Thirteen, where we are continuing the delegate debates. Today we have with us Telyina Venderbare, and General Caliban Fullam. Today we will let each candidate ask the other about a problem in the current system, and then the other candidate will outline how they plan to solve it. We’ll start off with Telyina.”

I saw the cameras pan to me. Taking a deep breath I asked the General, “General Caliban, as I’m sure you have seen, in this city we have a number of dangerous gangs that roam the streets, harming citizens. What do you believe must be done about this?”

This question was not only one that mattered to me, but also I hoped to show a lack of concern for the people on his behalf.

The General nodded wisely and said, “First of all, I don’t think any laws we put into place can stop any of the gang’s misdemeanors. While understandably wrong, the people have to understand that these criminals are law breakers. If we simply institute more laws, it will do nothing to stop them. We as a government cannot place laws to stop lawbreakers.”

Trying not to be angry I asked, “So you plan to do nothing, then?”

“It is not my place to do anything, that is the place of the Planet Guards, who work to bring peace to all cities.”

“But, do you agree, that the Planet Guards are not succeeding in keeping criminals off of the streets?”

“I would say that we are looking, not at what they have done, but what they have not done. The Planet Guard does a fine job, and we should be thanking them for all that they do, not harassing them for problems they haven’t fixed yet.”

I tried to calm myself so my eyes wouldn’t turn red with anger. The General had totally dodged my questions, and made doing nothing seem like a reasonable plan of action, I wished I could ask more, but according to the debate’s stiff format I could not ask further questions.

The newscaster smiled as the camera’s panned back to her, “A good question by Telyina, and a lovely answer by General Caliban. Now for General Caliban’s topic.”

The general turned to me as the camera’s switched to us.

“What is your thoughts about the recent robbery of natural resources that have been going on in this very city, what should be done about them?”

I looked at the General very calmly, hoping my eyes weren’t flashing green with fear. There was no way he could suspect me. This was just a coincidence. Finding my voice, I spoke as calmly and confidently as I could muster.

“I have heard very little on the subject, and deem it not to be a substantial issue. However, as always, I would encourage justice to be done.”

General Caliban turned his head quizzically, “ You do not believe that the robbery of natural resources is a big issue?

I smiled as best I could, “No I do not think it is such an issue compared to the lives being lost because of the gang feuds that threaten the safety of every citizen who walks the streets.”

General Caliban smirked, “So your plan is to do nothing?”

“No,” I said, “I encourage every method to be used to find these crooks. I’m simply stating that we should keep things in perspective and focus on things that hold immediate danger for our citizens.”

The camera panned back to the newscaster, who was signing off the program, but I didn’t hear a word she said. All I could think of was Caliban’s question, and hoping beyond hope that my eyes hadn’t turned green with fear when he had said it.

Plus, I realised, that his bringing the issue of the missing resources into play had brought even more public attention to it. We needed another distraction to turn the public eye away from the missing resources.