The Cusp of Legacy: Episode Ten- Connections

“The eternal quest of the individual human being is to shatter his loneliness.”- Norman Cousins, “Human Option” (1981)

 

May 26, 2019,

00:04 local time,

Great Lake Crosslands Pier,

City of Marian, Marian Capitol Region, Republic of Marian

 

“Kid,” said Marian City Police Department Captain Ezekiel “Zeke” Coleman as he approached a young woman sitting on a bench. “The pier's closed...it will re-open tomorrow at 6AM...you can come back then.”

 

The woman paid Coleman no heed. She just continued to sit there, staring into the distance. She was wearing nothing but her bikini bottoms, her sandals and her beach towel draped around her shoulders, having spent the day at the beach swimming and suntanning. Though The Republic of Marian had no law banning toplessness on women, the woman was still an anomaly that Coleman couldn't help but notice.

 

She must be some kind of a rebel, going topless around here, thought Coleman. She probably had a bad day...too many idiots catcalling, I figure. Go easy on her, Zeke.

 

“Miss,” said Coleman with concern, “is everything OK?”

 

This time, the woman glanced momentarily at Coleman but still otherwise paid him no attention. She had a lot brewing in her mind and she wasn't sure if sharing it with Coleman was the right idea.

 

“Do you mind if I sit with you?” said Coleman, hoping to make a breakthrough.

 

The woman glanced at Coleman again but still offered no response, except to give Coleman room on the bench.

 

“The water sure is nice around these parts,” said Coleman. “Great place to let all your worries go...very few places in Marian can really give you peace.”

 

The woman rolled her eyes and shook her head, letting out a heavy sigh.

 

“Listen, bozo,” said the woman with a scowl on her face. “I'm not working tonight. I'm not working today at all...so before you waste your time trying to get something out of me that you won't be getting, I suggest you leave and bother another girl.”

 

Coleman gave the woman a look, flummoxed by what he heard.

 

“Woah,” said Coleman. “Woah, woah, woah! Wow...uh...you're a beautiful woman and all, but I'm not here looking for a prostitute. I'm MCPD Captain Zeke Coleman...I was here for a late dinner and I'm just helping the other patrolmen clear the pier. That's all.”

“You're with the MCPD?” said the woman, who was suddenly intrigued.

“Yes ma'am,” said Coleman assuredly. “I'm their Captain...in fact, I just started a few months ago.”

“Then maybe you can explain to me what this 'policeman's favour' is,” said the woman, “because every other officer that tries to kick me out of the pier always tells me I can stay as long as I f*** them.”

 

Coleman then gave the woman a surprised look.

 

“As long as you what?” said Coleman with visible shock.

 

“I mean,” said the woman, resigned to her fate, “it's OK I guess...gives me a place to sleep and some of them even pay well, so you know...I don't mind and stuff.”

 

Coleman was aghast. He couldn't believe what the woman told him and it disgusted him to his very core that his own officers were taking advantage of the poor woman. It violated every ethical standard he could think of, and he could think of very few things that would be worse behaviour for police officers to do.

 

“Miss,” said Coleman, mortified and profusely remorseful, “I cannot put into words how disgusted and ashamed I am of my officers that they would do these things to you. I will do everything I can to make it right, because what those officers did to you is beyond crossing the line and that's not something I will ever stand for in my department.”

 

The woman was struck by Coleman's words, moving towards him and eventually snuggling with him. With her arms wrapped around him and her head on his heart, she began to cry, letting it all out in a torrent of tears that actually provided her with a sense of immense relief. Coleman, meanwhile, was taken aback by the woman's actions, but he sensed she needed some companionship and compassion, so he went along with it.

 

“You're like, the first person not to dismiss me,” said the woman. “Everyone else I tell says that I must be lying or exaggerating, or that I 'deserve it' because I'm a prostitute...which maybe I do, because I am nothing but a slut.”

 

“Hey, hey, hey,” said Coleman. “Don't put yourself down now...if you want to be a prostitute, there's nothing wrong with that. It's not illegal, as long as you're making the choice to do that. Besides, you don't 'deserve' anything just because you made a choice...you're still a human, you deserve respect.

 

“What's your name, kid?”

 

“Serena,” said the woman. “Serena Riley.”

 

“Serena,” said Coleman, “do you want to come back to the station and identify the officers that violated you?”

 

Serena sighed, being hesitant of the proposition.

 

“You know they'll just call their union,” she said, “and argue this is a 'he said/she said'- or, in some cases, 'she said/she said'- situation and the union can get whatever reprimand you give them thrown out. Do you really think they'll take the words of some whore over a policeman's?”

 

“Serena,” said Coleman softly but firmly, “again, don't put yourself down...you shouldn't feel ashamed to be a whore.”

“I never said I was,” said Serena. “I'm just speaking the truth.”

“Well,” said Coleman, “here's another truth- if we get your allegations on record, the officers can't commit the same act again because then it becomes a 'pattern of offences' where it will be even harder for them to claim plausible deniability. You tell someone 'no' once, they could argue miscommunication or something...you tell them 'no' multiple times...well, there ain't getting around that.”

 

Serena nodded her head, acknowledging what Coleman said. She began to feel a connection to Coleman, as did Coleman to her, in a “father-daughter” kind of way. Serena didn’t know if she could fully trust Coleman just yet, but he had a sincerity many MCPD officers seemed to lack. Serena went back to the MCPD station to give her statement to Coleman, deciding to trust the process. Unfortunately, this being Marian, the process didn’t work as it should have and Serena’s complaints ultimately fell on deaf ears, no matter how hard Coleman or Roy pushed to get them heard.

 

Which was disappointing for Serena, but that wasn’t her goal. Lying in her makeshift bed in her makeshift apartment at the Pier, Serena was just content with the relief of finally getting heard. It wasn’t much but considering all of her combined tragedies, it felt like the first positive Serena could point to in a long line of far too many negatives.

 

November 5, 2019,

00:10 local time,

Roman Watchmen Camp,

Fort York, Roman Hudson Bay, Roman Empire

 

“Guys,” said Coleman, flashing his badge at the Roman Imperial Watchmen guarding the interrogation rooms. “I've got it from here.”

 

The Watchmen nodded and dutifully let Coleman pass, directing him to the room he needed to go to.

 

Once inside, he closed the door behind him and smiled once he saw his guest.

 

“Wyatt Wilson,” said Coleman, chuckling as he made his way to his seat across from Wilson, also known as Endgame. “You know, I've always wondered what you were up to ever since you decided to bail on us in Los Angeles.”

“You mean, ever since you guys decided it wasn't worth doing your jobs?” said Endgame, snapping back at Coleman.

“Oh is that what this is about?” said Coleman. “You think we just gave up, right? Just chalked it up to another case we couldn't solve and called it a day, right?”

“I don't know how else you could describe it,” said Endgame matter-of-factly.

 

Coleman shook his head in disbelief. Endgame had briefly worked with him during their time with the Los Angeles Police Department, just over a year and a half ago. Their partnership was short-lived but marked by a case neither of them would forget- a case that started as a routine overdose and spiraled into something far darker. The investigation eventually led them toward Los Angeles City Councillor Ellen Troy, but only through the testimony of a woman who was already dying from fatal familial insomnia. She offered details no one outside the case should have known, and while the LAPD treated her story as credible, her rapid decline meant no follow-up was ever possible. When she died, so did the last viable lead. Under pressure from the California state government, the department shut down the case. No further charges. No deeper inquiry. Coleman and Endgame, disillusioned and out of options, both resigned soon after- quietly, without fanfare. That resignation eventually led Coleman here, to the MCPD, still searching for a place where justice might actually stick.

 

“I learned something working with you wastes of air,” said Endgame, “and that's the police don't care at all about justice. It's all about 'procedure' and 'protocol' and making sure your t's are dotted and your i's are crossed, rather than making sure you actually solved the crime. I'm sorry, but that just ain't me. I'm much better on my own.”

 

Coleman gave Endgame a scowl.

 

“Look,” he said, “I'm mad at myself every day that I let Troy off the hook...but I've come to accept that there is very little I can do about it. However, I choose to be patient and let karma run its course...one day that f***er's luck is going to run out and mark my words- when it does, I'll be there to let her know all about it.”

 

“Or,” said Endgame snidely, “you could just be me and realize that the police are just a phony sham who serve no one but themselves.”

 

“Is that why you assaulted a police officer here?” said Coleman.

“Police officer?” said Endgame dismissively. “He's Righteous Concern...he's merely a civilian!”

“Righteous Concern may not have all the gadgets that more conventional officers have,” said Coleman firmly, “but they're still registered officers of the law. Just because they can't do more than your rudimentary neighbourhood watch doesn't mean they're mere 'civilians'. They have rights and protections too and you are knee deep in trouble because of it, my friend.”

 

Endgame chuckled.

 

“First of all,” said Endgame, “we're not friends. Let's get that out of the way.”

“C'mon Wyatt,” said Coleman with a wry chuckle, “you know what I meant. You're smarter than that.”

“Second of all,” said Endgame, “that 'officer' has information that I need.”

 

“Information?” said Coleman, who was now intrigued. “What kind of information?”

 

Endgame slapped the desk as he burst out laughing. The hubris of Coleman is unbelievable, he thought.

 

“Do you really think I'm going to give you any of that information?” said Endgame.

 

Coleman leaned back in his chair and folded his arms, and though he was expressionless, he looked Endgame right in the eye.

 

“Well,” said Coleman, “you're already looking at several years behind bars for assaulting an officer here. In The Republic of Marian, you're probably looking at least at another ten years for assaulting Daniel Duke. There's only one way out of all this unless you want to throw away the rest of your life in prison, and that's if you help me out.

 

“Seriously, Wyatt....we're on the same team. That's never changed just because you're no longer a cop. You were my brother then and you're my brother now...you'll always be my brother. Anyone that's out for justice is always someone on my side, no matter where they're fighting from.”

 

Endgame laughed wryly.

 

“Don't give me that Criminal Minds bulls***,” said Endgame. “I know you have no leverage with any prosecutors here or in The Republic of Marian...and that 'brother' crap...man, that's just weak. I fully know what side I'm on...and it's nowhere near where you are.”

 

Coleman then got up and headed for the door. He called for a Watchman to come by shortly after opening it and, before he left, he addressed Endgame one last time.

 

“Whatever Wyatt,” said Coleman. “I still have to take you back to The Republic of Marian to answer for the charges you have pending against you over there...and you're going to come with me whether you like it or not.”

“Oh I will like it,” said Endgame as the Patrolman readjusted his handcuffs. “Because I won't mind going down swinging if it means bringing out the truth about Daniel Duke.”

 

March 25, 2002,

20:17 local time,

Cape Breton Raiderdome,

Sydney, Cape Breton Island

 

Pancratius Danilis “Daniel Duke” Ducatus was on the edge of his seat. The portly, Roman-Irishman with brown hair, the full brown beard and bronzed skin was there to watch his favourite team, the Cape Breton Raiders, take on the Saginaw Whalers in World League volleyball action. The playoffs were on the line tonight, as the Raiders needed to win ensure qualification, something that Daniel, who had been following the team since his high school years in the mid-1990s, had never seen them do. The Raiders had won the first two sets easily, 25-16 and 25-12, but the Whalers edged them in the third set, 29-27, and were poised to do so again, having taken the fourth set to 23-17.

 

The raucous crowd of over 22,000 at the Dome got as loud as they could, hoping the energy could boost the Raiders to take the next two points and thus the victory. Daniel, sitting courtside since his job as the Great Lakes’ Peace Commander gave him the money with which he could afford that luxury, did what he could with noisemakers and rather enthusiastic cheering and clapping.

 

It seemed to work, as the Whalers dropped the next point and gave the ball back to the Raiders, who were now serving down 23-18 and had a glimmer of hope.

 

When the Raiders' star player, Molly Brillinger, stepped back to begin the process of serving the ball and resuming play, Daniel rose like the rest of the crowd to his feet to take in the ensuing play. The excitement and tension only grew as Brillinger tossed the ball up as she jumped and smacked it mid-air, causing the ball to power forward.

 

She must have hit that thing 1,000 miles per hour, thought Daniel as the ball sailed from her hand.

 

Unfortunately, the hearts of the stadium dropped as they saw the ball zing harmlessly into the net, dropping the point and giving the Whalers a 24-18. lead and thus set point.

 

At this stage, the Raiders' coach, Everton Senior, had enough, so he called timeout.

 

“Ladies,” said the boisterous Senior who was much older than he looked, “I don't think I need to tell you that we need to get this set. They get this set they'll have all the momentum heading into the fifth...who knows if we can recover it then. We gotta get our heads back into this.”

“I'm sorry Ev,” said Molly, downtrodden. “I was too focused on getting it into play that I didn't get the height that I should have...it's entirely my fault.”

“Mols,” said veteran Gina Saunders to the rookie fresh from Boston College, “happens to the best of us. We just need to refocus and make sure that we get the next point.”

“I know,” said Molly, still sullen, “I just don't want the press to point to that moment and say 'that's why the team didn't make the playoffs- AGAIN'.”

“Well then,” said another veteran, Carly Myers, with a smile. “I think I know what we need to do.”

“What's that?” said Molly, suddenly buoyed by Carly's confidence.

“Make sure that doesn't happen,” said Carly, giving Molly a reassurance tap on her butt that re-energized the rookie.

 

Back on the court, Molly had a renewed focus, flying around the court and digging every ball that she could. Though officially classed as a hitter, her all-around game made her stand out to Everton, who knew she would be a star in the making once she got more seasoning. Everton was so convinced of her skills that he pressed the Raiders' board of directors personally to give him the funds to sign her to a professional contract, as well as pay for the legal fees needed for her to transfer to Cape Breton, a long process.

 

He would be proven right on the court. Molly had a fantastic rookie season despite expected bouts with her confidence, and the athletic, svelte blonde was again having the game of her life tonight. Driven by Molly's work ethic, the Raiders scored six straight points to get the set to 24-all, erasing set point for the Whalers. Another serve into the net by the Raiders' Dawn Henderson again brought up set point for Saginaw, who by now had accumulated seven chances to seal the set.

 

The Whalers' Jenna Milgram sent the ball back into play, a floating serve but enough backspin that the Raiders misjudged its initial landing spot. Fortunately, Gina guessed right and dove for the ball, preventing it from landing for a point and allowing the Raiders to set up their attack. Carly noticed she had enough air underneath the ball to get a quick set, sending the ball for Molly who ran from the baseline and jumped up very close to the three-foot line and smashed the ball from the back row.

 

With a thud that could be heard all over Sydney, the crowd erupted for joy, howling as Molly had, yet again, saved set point.

 

This team has the heart of a lion, thought Daniel as he cheered enthusiastically with the rest of the crowd.

 

However, those cheers soon turned into loud groans and then boos as the referee, Dan O'Halloran, ruled that Molly was guilty of a “back row attack”, when a player who starts play behind the three-foot line on the court strikes the ball after crossing the line. Thus, instead of the game being tied 25-all in the fourth set, the fourth set would be awarded to the Whalers, 26-24.

 

It wouldn't come without a fight, as Everton loudly protested the decision. Had the point occurred before a team got to set point, Everton could have initiated a coach's challenge (as he had one per set), but after a team got to set point, only the referee could initiate the challenge. O'Halloran refused to review the play, believing there was no ambiguity, but Everton persisted, earning him first a yellow card and then a red card, meaning the Raiders would have to start their crucial fifth set down 1-0.

 

Everton would not abate his anger, throwing his clipboard and running towards O'Halloran, despite the futile attempts of his coaches to restrain him. Everton loudly confronted O'Halloran as the crowd got into its “referees suck” chant, a chant that grew louder by the minute.

 

The stubborn O'Halloran refused to budge, greeting the screaming and finger-pointing Everton with another red card, ejecting him from the contest. At this point, the game's other referee, Jana Parson, approached Everton in order to escort him off the court (though Everton was already starting to do this on his own), and once Everton left, Parson had some words with O'Halloran.

 

“I'd review it, Dan,” she said. “It did not look like a back row...she didn't cross the line at all.”

“Not from my vantage point,” said O'Halloran. “Besides, her shoes make it hard to tell...her soles are black, just like the line. The review would be pointless.”

 

Once Everton was back in the locker room, stewing over another missed call, the game resumed, and it wasn't pretty for the Raiders. Deflated from having to fight back so many times over the third and fourth sets, Cape Breton had nothing left for the fifth, where Saginaw cruised to an almost embarrassingly easy 15-5 set win to take the match 3 sets to 2.

 

After the game, Everton continued his loud tirade to the press, coming out with Gina and Dawn for the obligatory post-game press conference. Molly was supposed to come out as well but she was too distraught to face the reporters, and Everton didn't want her to lose what was left of her confidence to a sadistic press corps.

 

“Before I let any of you talk,” said Everton loudly, gesturing wildly to the crowd as he often did when he talked, “let me state this clearly and unequivocally. We did not lose the game because of the missed call. We did not lose the game because of the referee. We did not lose the game because of Dawn...and, we most certainly did not lose the game because of Molly. Molly Brillinger played her heart out and more than proved her worth on the court and I'm not going to let any of you losers brutalize her more than you already do. She came out there a winner and she's an inspiration to us all...I'm crestfallen that she did not have a better fate.”

 

A few murmurs came from the corps before someone decided to ask a question.

 

“OK,” said Peter Collison, the World League writer for Sports Illustrated, “so if Molly doesn't send that ball into the net, the set wouldn't have gone to 24-18. If Dawn doesn't send the ball into the net, you don't face set point at 25-24 and no one would care about the back row attack. If Molly had better spacial awareness, she would have jumped earlier and avoided any chance of being called for a 'back row attack'. Furthermore, if Dan O'Halloran doesn't make that call or at least bothered to review it, you don't go to a fifth set and thus you've got two more points to win the game. So...if none of those reasons are why you lost, why did you lose, Everton?”

 

Everton smiled, anticipating that question.

 

“They outplayed us,” he said assuredly. “We expended all of our energy just trying to get back into the game that we eventually had nothing left...you know, you go on about how the referee doesn't make that call that we'd be at 25-all and we'd have two chances to win the game...well, I'm not sure we would have won the game. 25-all could have easily become 26-25 for them and they could have easily scored the next point and won the set. The momentum had swung clearly much earlier.”

 

“So when would you say that you lost the match,” said Patrick Revert of the Saginaw Standard.

 

“When I started the third set with Molly on the bench,” said Everton. “I never should have done that...I took her out of her rhythm and took us out of our game and we never did get it back. She should have at least been out there for a couple of points, at least until we had a comfortable lead...I underestimated their resolve and full credit to them, they fought back.”

 

“So you entirely blame yourself for this loss,” said Jill Elfson of the London Times.

 

“Absolutely,” said Everton assuredly. “Not that I wish to take anything away from Saginaw because those ladies played their tails off... full credit to them for their victory. They earned it and that's why they're going to the playoffs and we're not.”

 

“What do you say to the people of Cape Breton,” said Eric Newsbury of the Cape Breton Post, “who have now not seen a playoff volleyball game since 1963. Because surely you can't sell us on 'hope' and 'patience' and 'how far we've come this year' because no one will believe that. Except for Gina, you now have an entire team that wasn't even born when we last saw a playoff game involving the Raiders...fans, they're getting restless.”

 

“They should be,” said Everton. “Believe me, I'm just as upset as they are...I said before this season that the playoffs are the only result that's acceptable and we didn't get there...there's no sugar-coating it, nor will I. I will answer for that failure and I will answer it as much as you want me too.”

 

“Let me just state here,” said Gina, “that before you write your hit pieces calling for Ev's head, I'm going to state that there has been no other coach I would rather play for. That's not me saying that because I'm up here...no, I believe it, Dawn believes it, Molly believes it and the whole team believes it. Everton has taken this team further than any other coach has taken this team and that should count for something. This was the first time since 1990 that we had a chance to qualify for the playoffs right up to our last game...we've really made progress. I know the fans won't see it that way but we can't change course...we can't.

 

“That's why I'm announcing right here that I will not retire as planned and will come back for another season.”

 

The press corps was stunned by the announcement, and so too was Daniel when he heard about it. Gina was the reason he started following Cape Breton, discovering the sport as a 13-year-old in 1980, when Gina just started her career for the Raiders at 19. Daniel was disappointed to learn that Gina would have retired without a playoff game, so he was happy that Gina hadn't given up and hoped she would play in one next year.

 

He also wound up making a new acquaintance for himself following the game that gave him hope for the new year.

 

March 25, 2002,

22:09 local time,

The Bull and the Bear Pub,

Sydney, Nova Scotia

 

Daniel was still stewing about the loss. 39 years without a playoff game...that's insane. Sitting at the bar conversing with the other patrons and drinking heavily, Daniel and his new pals talked endlessly about the team and their pathetic run, now easily the longest time out of the playoffs for any team in World League history.

 

“We went to six straight World League finals,” said Daniel. “Four straight. We were even able to beat the American teams when they were allowed in the league.”

“Yeah,” said Hugo, a barfly. “I wish the Commonwealth would bury the hatchet with Superior so that the World League could play the American teams again...there was some real talent over there.”

“Superior and the UCSS burying the hatchet?” said Peter, another barfly. “That'll be the day.”

“Hey,” said Daniel, “I worked with the Americans before...believe me, they want to bury the hatchet as much as you guys do. They just wish the politicians wouldn't have their heads stuck so far up their a**es in order for them to do it.”

 

Before another barfly had a chance to respond, Daniel caught out of the corner of his eye a woman sitting in the corner hunched over, her head in her arms, crying as she sat in front of an unfinished beer. Because of his policeman instincts, Daniel got up and wanted to check up on the woman, before a security guard got in his way.

 

“She wants to be left alone,” said the guard. “Sorry sir.”

“All right,” said Daniel, not putting up a fight. “I just wanted to make sure she's OK.”

“She will be,” said the guard, who didn't sound so sure.

“Send her my best,” said Daniel as he smiled before starting to walk away.

 

The security guard then tapped Daniel on the shoulder.

 

“Sir,” said the guard. “She'll let you sit with her.”

“Oh?” said Daniel, surprised. “OK.” He then proceeded to take his seat, amazed at who he was sitting with.

 

“Molly Brillinger?” he said, trying to contain his excitement.

“Yeah,” said Molly, sheepishly looking up. “It's me...I recognized you from the seats...I just wanted to say thank you for coming out and making sure I'm OK.”

“Thank you,” said Daniel with a smile before he got serious again. “Are...are you OK?”

“No,” said Molly, her makeup running because of all of her tears. “I'm reading all these message boards...they're all blaming me for the loss. I played my heart out and all they want to talk about is how I misjudged where the line was...I mean, for real?”

 

Daniel reached across the table and extended his hand, his heart taken by the display.

 

“Molly,” he said softly. “You can't let them get to you...you did play your heart out...I saw it with my own eyes. It was inspirational...it was moving...and it was one of the greatest athletic achievements I've ever seen. Wow...I can't tell you how great a performer you were and it breaks my heart to see you like this...you deserve better.”

 

Molly noticed his outstretched hand and cupped it, causing Daniel to reciprocate. In doing so, Molly leaned forward enough that Daniel caught a glimpse of her birthmark on her breast, but he quickly looked away, not wanting to give Molly the wrong impression.

 

“Those guys on the message boards,” said Daniel, “they don't know. They don't know what it's like to be out there and train so hard. In fact, I bet most of them are just fat blowhards who have nothing going right in their lives so they take it out on those who've actually achieved something...like you. I can't speak for most of the fandom, but I assure you those trolls don't represent me. I think you were incredible...the team was incredible...Ev was incredible...there really is a bright future here, there really is.”

 

Molly smiled.

 

“Thanks,” she said, before she frowned again. “How do I know you're not just saying that?”

 

Daniel sighed.

 

“I wish there was some way that I could show you it's how I truly feel,” said Daniel, “but it's the truth. Believe me...I'm a cop. In fact, I'm the top cop in all of the Great Lakes...I have to be honest. It's my job.”

“You're with the Great Lakes Peace?” said Molly, her interest suddenly piqued.

“I'm the Great Lakes Peace Commander, actually,” said Daniel, warming to the subject. “Youngest one there ever was. Not too many people know that because I'm not the kind of guy whose face gets plastered everywhere...plus, I don't got a face as pretty as yours.”

 

Molly laughed and squeezed Daniel's hands.

 

“Aww,” she said, “don't be so hard on yourself. You're cute. Your wife must be very happy with you.”

 

Now it was Daniel's turn to laugh, albeit sheepishly.

 

“I don't got a wife, actually,” he said, wistfully. “25 years old...never been married. Heck, I've never had sex before...I live in the Great Lakes, where there really are no women…unless you're lucky, really…but, don't cry for me. I love my job...I don't think I'd have time for any woman, really, even if I did live somewhere else.”

“If it wasn't for volleyball,” said Molly, “I'd be working in your field. I love policework.”

“That's right,” said Daniel, his brain starting to retrieve the information, “you studied criminology at Texas...say, how's Galla doing?”

“Galla Claudia?” said Molly.

“Yeah, Galla Claudia,” said Daniel. “Good friend of mine...we had to work together on a case about six years ago to deal with a drug smuggler in Texas since the Rancher Republics hadn't figured out their borders yet. Managed to catch the guy but it took some doing. In any case, if there was one thing about Galla that stood out, it's that she never quit. Helped me become the investigator I am today.”

“Galla expected us to work hard, I know,” said Molly. “I think I owe my work ethic to her...I hated how hard she was on me but, looking back, it made me the player I am today.”

“...and the player you'll become,” said Daniel with a confident smile that brightened Molly right up.

 

Molly smiled, and began to produce tears of joy.

 

“Do you really think so?” said Molly, with as wide a smile as she had produced all night.

“I don't just think so,” said Daniel. “I believe it. Galla don't raise a fool.”

 

Molly again smiled and squeezed Daniel's hands. Daniel was exactly what she needed in that moment, and she couldn't be more grateful.

 

“Listen,” said Molly. “I'd love to pick your brain a little more in a place that's more quiet.”

“My hotel is just up the street,” said Daniel with a smile.

“Let's go then,” said Molly, as both left the bar, hand in hand.

 

March 25, 2013,

10:05 local time,

Church of St. Wesley,

Saginaw, Empire of Michigan

 

The magic was in the air. Daniel could feel it.

 

The music. The pomp. The glamour.

 

The Church was all decked out, and everyone went as far as they could go. Even Daniel found the opportunity to dress up himself.

 

The reason? Today was the day Molly Brillinger was going to become a Duke.

 

It was enough to stir Daniel's emotions, though he was always an emotional guy.

 

Today, with the magic of the wedding, it was a time for Daniel's emotions to go into overdrive. How could they not given all that happened for Daniel and Molly to end up in this state?

 

Oh the wonder...the stupor...such an overwhelming feeling. Weddings always stirred the pinnacle of human feelings, and Daniel was no different.

 

Of course, this was just the opening ceremonies...by the time it came for Molly to come out in that dress, everyone was floored.

 

She was never a “dress” kind of girl, but tonight she rocked her dress and she owned the style.

 

Gosh she's so beautiful.

 

There Daniel was, crying at the spectacle. Crying because he couldn't resist giving in to his emotions any longer.

 

Crying because it wasn't he who was marrying Molly, but his brother, Darrell.

 

Daniel was supposed to be the best man, but at the last minute, he backed out, escaping to the basement of the Church to empty one of several flasks of whisky he had hid in his suit to drown out his sorrows. He was careful to find a place where no one could find him, and he thought he found a place where he couldn't hear the music that would remind him of just what he had lost, but he was mistaken.

 

How could I get to this point​? He often asked himself this question, and it put a strain on his relationship with Darrell, who was five years his junior.

 

That night in 2002...Daniel took Molly back to his hotel, and the sparks flew and the drinks swirled as well, and the two fell in love. They had sex that night, several times because Molly knew Daniel needed some practice because he was a virgin.

 

It was exhausting...it was exhilarating...and it was over too soon.

 

Not because of any ill will between Molly and Daniel...oh no, the two of them forged a very good and very close friendship.

 

Daniel was just spooked about getting into a relationship, as too was Molly, so they agreed to tone things down.

 

Daniel thought that would mean that, one day, when he was ready, Molly would come back into his arms.

 

It was not to be.

 

One day, in 2005, after Molly had become a global superstar with the Raiders and restored the team to glory, she had a game in Saginaw against the Whalers. Darrell had just been promoted to the rank of Welsh Chief Guard, a ceremony that Daniel presided over with pride, and, to celebrate, Daniel invited Darrell out to the game.

 

That was a mistake, Daniel would often think.

 

Darrell met Molly after the game, and the two of them had instant sparks. They hid their relationship from Daniel for a while, fearing what he would think, but eventually Daniel confronted Darrell after a social media post gave away the facade and Darrell was forced to spill the beans.

 

Darrell offered to break up with her but Daniel overruled him, because otherwise he'd be letting his own selfish desires get in the way of Darrell's happiness.

 

Besides...why would a girl like Molly be attracted to me? Daniel would often think. I'm fat, dishevelled, a grunt...meanwhile Darrell's a chiselled, smooth, well-groomed kind of guy...Molly deserves him.

 

Daniel, Molly and Darrell made things work despite times of awkwardness at first, with Daniel eventually feeling like part of “the family”.

 

Still, there was always that part of Daniel that resented what happened, even if his better judgment knew his anger was misplaced.

 

It didn't help on a day like today, and Daniel felt he should have admitted to his brother that he just wasn't up to the task, a thought that only made him cry some more.

 

Eventually in his bawling, drunken stupor, Daniel fell fast asleep, only roused when Darrell came by loudly knocking on the cellar door.

 

“Who is it?” Daniel wailed. “Now's not a good time.”

“There you are,” said Molly, still wearing her wedding dress. She sat down next to him and took his hand, caressing it as she bent down on the table to get eye-level with Daniel.

“Yeah, I'm here,” said Daniel, still a drunken mess. “So what? This is your day...I don't belong in it...I only ruined it.”

“Daniel, c'mon,” said Darrell, standing to Daniel's side after entering the room. “It's OK...we understand. Today was a tough day for you...I should have known.”

“No, no, no,” said Daniel, slowly regaining his composure as Molly held his hand. “My maturity isn't where it should be...you guys have been together for eight years...I should have moved on by now.”

“Daniel,” said Molly. “You just had a slip...it's OK. A day like this will bring back a lot of bad memories...you shouldn't feel ashamed of yourself.”

“Well, you should,” said Darrell. “I mean, you had a task at this weddi-”

“Darrell!” snapped Molly, giving Darrell a scornful glare.

 

“No,” said Daniel with a heavy sigh. “Darrell's right...I should be ashamed...I was supposed to be the best man and I screwed it up, just to drown my sorrows in Jack Daniel's...there's no sugar-coating it...I failed. Miserably. I can't tell you how sorry I am for doing that.”

 

Molly moved closer and wrapped her arm around Daniel, squeezing him in a side embrace.

 

“It's OK,” said Molly, through tears. “I forgive you. I know you'll make up for it by being the best uncle our kids will ever have.”

 

Daniel smiled but then became downcast again.

 

“Yeah, uncle,” he said. “I'll never be a father, especially in the Great Lakes.”

“Oh come on!” said Darrell. “I know the Great Lakes isn't exactly ‘babe central’, but you've got the ability to travel…and if you came here, you'd be battling the chicks left right and centre.”

 

Molly gave Darrell the side eye, to which he only reacted in wonder over what the big deal was. Daniel wanted to respond that he couldn't leave home- he was too comfortable there- but he was too distraught to press Darrell on a fact he already knew. Molly too thought against pressing further, knowing Daniel needed her attention more.

 

“Daniel,” she said, squeezing him again, Daniel really letting the tenderness resonate. “You're a beautiful guy with an even more beautiful soul. You will find a woman anywhere in the world. Maybe you need some time still to know what you really want-”

“I know, ‘when I'm ready…’ ”, he said with a sigh.

“I know,” said Molly with a sigh, “it's tough to be patient, but even you know you can't control these things. What I do know is that good guys like you get rewarded, and you will be happy in the end. I guarantee it.”

 

Daniel smiled, his spirits lifted by Molly's kind words. He got up and gave both the bride and groom hugs, leaving with them for the reception. There, Daniel delivered his “best man speech” flawlessly and to great applause, as everyone danced into the night in a joyous celebration.

 

December 25, 2015,

14:39 local time,

Daniel Duke's Apartment,

Bay City, Empire of Michigan

 

“Oh yeah! Oh yeah!”

 

Daniel Duke was really getting into his strokes. Sitting on his couch naked, the portly, scraggly man who so desperately needed a shave and a haircut, this late afternoon wack-off was the highlight of Daniel's lonely Christmas.

 

Some years were harder than others, with Daniel forced to stroke for several hours at a time just to feel relief.

 

This year, Daniel made a change, and it made his masturbation that much easier- and way more pleasurable.

 

“Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah!” he said in his grizzled gruff, as he stroked his penis faster and with greater intensity. He smiled as he felt his phallus get engorged, ready to burst with semen at any moment.

 

He then went harder and faster, as the sense of anticipation overcame him.

 

Now, Daniel was intensely focused on what was in front of him, as the intensity of his strokes meant there was nothing that was going to get in the way of his excitement.

 

He gasped, as finally the moment he was waiting for finally hit.

 

He yelped with joy as his ejaculate erupted from his penis, gushing and flowing effortlessly, landing in a steaming pile of goo right in front of him, a pile he called his “Pile of Joy”.

 

As he took a few moments to catch his breath and smile triumphantly, Daniel looked in front of him with glee and appreciation.

 

“Thank you, Kylie,” said Daniel, with a wide ear-to-ear grin as he stared at his favourite picture of Kylie Minogue, the Marianite pop superstar known as much for her looks as for her catchy singles.

 

As Daniel got up to grab the mop bucket and clean up his triumph, he kissed his picture of Minogue on the lips, again thanking the singer as if she was there. As he continued on his way to the kitchen, his phone went off.

 

It was Darrell.

 

“Hey Darrell,” said Daniel, putting his phone on speaker while he cleaned up his Joyous Pile. “Good to hear from you man. Isn't it seven in the morning over there though?”

“It's eight, actually,” said Darrell, speaking, as he usually did, in a sarcastic, easy-going tone. “and I'm awake because my adorable kids just don't seem to have any patience for their presents and let Daddy sleep every once in a while!”

 

Daniel chuckled, before turning dour.

 

“I guess this is where you tell me 'I'm lucky I don't have any kids',” said Daniel, not hiding his feelings.

“C'mon, bro,” said Darrell, sensing Daniel's indignation. “How many times do I have to tell you that life with 2.2 kids, a smoking hot wife and a minivan doesn't get any easier no matter how much more experience I get with it?”

“At least you have a wife and kids,” said Daniel. “I'm stuck here all alone.”

“Brother,” said Darrell, “I've told you before- come to Wales. There's chicks everywhere. A guy with your charm will be banging hotties left right and centre in no time...there's just so many of them. Of course, as I say- don't fall in love with them, because no matter how smokin' hot they may be, they still get annoying.”

 

Daniel was touched by his brother's candidness. He chuckled as his anger subsided.

 

“How's Tyler and Tracy doing?” said Daniel, referring to Darrell's kids, aged two and four.

“Oh they're really excited,” said Darrell. “Molly and I decided instead of the multitude of presents we'd get them a dog...got 'em this beautiful Dobermann-Pinscher...by the looks of this puppy, he's got to get real big and he's going to be quite the fighter.”

“Nice,” said Daniel.

“Kind of reminds me of you, actually,” said Darrell, dropping the sarcasm in his voice momentarily to get serious.

 

“Oh,” said Daniel, warmed to hear that. “I don't know what to say.”

 

“Ah,” said Darrell, smiling for a moment, “you don't need to say anything. Just promise me you'll come visit...it's been too long since we really caused a ruckus.”

 

Daniel chuckled and agreed.

 

“Yeah,” he said. “Before you were married, we were kings. I promise I'll come visit. I just have to sort some things out.”

“Still?” said Darrell. “It's been almost two years now.”

“One, actually,” said Daniel wistfully. “Last February, actually, so not even a year.”

“Wow,” said Darrell. “Didn't realize it hasn't been that long.”

“Yeah,” said Daniel, wistfully. He wanted to add “because you still have your job” but decided against it.

 

“Listen, Darrell,” said Daniel, trying to keep a brave face. “I'm glad you called. Always good to hear from you. Anyway, I need to care of a few things, so I'm going to let you go. Have fun with your family and Merry Christmas.”

“Merry Christmas to you too, brother,” said Darrell as Daniel hung up the phone.

 

Daniel then sat back on his couch, pondering his life. His brother's phone calls always made him reflect, but this year, given all that's happened, it seemed to make him reflective that much more.

 

For almost twenty years, Daniel was the distinguished Commander of the Great Lakes detachment of Peace, one of the most sought after positions within the organization. Daniel was the Guards' second Chief, ascending to the role in 2001 in a meteoric rise after being a distinguished prodigy in school. He proved to be a very successful Chief, the fiery Roman-Irishman gaining a reputation for his dogged determination and his relentless fighting spirit. He also had a charm that made him a delight to his subordinates as well as made him able to negotiate beyond enemy lines and connect with Roman officials if he had to (though his heritage also helped). Daniel's father- a Roman- also made a name for himself as a detective within the Great Lakes region of North America, a sprawling political region that was dominated by The Republic of Marian and the Empire of Michigan (themselves described as “Great Lakes republics” or simply “Laker republics”, after the region’s dominant Laker culture), both of whom also exploited the resource-rich taiga of the Ontario Outback. The Dukes, formally of Fort York in Roman Hudson Bay, moved to The Republic of Marian when Darrell was a baby and Daniel was five. Daniel stayed in The Republic of Marian while Darrell moved to Wales for school, staying there upon graduation and becoming the Chief Guard there while Daniel moved to the Chief for the Great Lakes Peace.

 

While he was successful, the one thorn Daniel consistently dealt with was the multitude of human trafficking rings that originated from the Great Lakes. Many of them originated from an organization known as the Soldiers of the Lord, a shadowy paramilitary group that called itself servants of the Great Lakes’ dominant religion, Nathanism, but also organizing millions of different groups or “cells” that operated worldwide and committed acts of terrorism, mostly with kidnappings and striking against feminists and their causes.

 

The impetuous for the Soldiers' activities was the Great Lakes' demographic crisis, where a policy limiting parents to one child (strictly enforced) and an extremely patriarchal culture meant parents preferred sons to the extreme. It meant that over 25 million Laker men were destined not to have a wife, simply because there would not be a woman available for them to date, let alone marry.

 

Exacerbating it was the region's religion, the Nathanites. The religion is an offshoot of Christianity, one that emphasizes Jesus Christ's lineage through King David's son Nathan, from whom Jesus' Mother, Mary, would descend from. The Nathanites contended that because Mary served God in this function that all women should serve men, so, in the Great Lakes, women had no rights, being the slave of head man in the household- either her husband, her father or her oldest brother- with orphan women sold to the Soldiers to be slaves for them, though many orphaned women (especially those who were old) would be just killed.

 

Daniel was not a practicing Nathanite, and he- like many Laker men- abhorred the idea of human trafficking, but they came to accept the practice believing the country had no other way to operate. Unfortunately, since human trafficking became a big business in the country, many Laker men couldn't afford to partake in it anyway, leaving the trafficked women to the rich Lakers, many of whom who were the worst abusers of Nathanism since many could afford to treat women in a disposable manner. A few common Lakers were able to afford a wife for themselves and the vast majority of these common Lakers were respectful, even loving, towards their new wives, but they represented only a small fraction of the trafficking customers.

 

It would be those stories about Nathanites that the world would hear, which destroyed any hope for support for the common Laker man's story. The Lakers tried several different methods to temper the practice and make it more “palatable”, eventually leading to a successful program where the Laker governments offered to sponsor willing women to move to the country and be paired up with a Laker male through a matchmaking service.

 

However, the numbers weren't enough to satisfy every Laker, so the illegal rings continued flourishing. Daniel tried many times to shut them down but he continually faced opposition from every level of government. He only got a breakthrough when a feminist group successfully framed the Soldiers and managed to traffic women from Roman territories, at which point the Great Lakes republics were out of options.

 

The Romans threatened war- a war the Laker republics knew internally they could not win- at which point Daniel could finally bring the illegal traffickers to justice.

 

Unfortunately for Daniel, the Great Lakes republics and Peace were looking for a “fall guy” and Daniel was too convenient. Daniel protested that he did all he could and never did “allow” the illegal rings to flourish, presenting mounds of evidence that it was really the Peace officials and Laker politicians who got in his way.

 

Still, there was nothing he could do, and on February 14, 2015, Daniel was out as the Commander.

 

Daniel was still allowed to maintain his Peace pension and became a successful real estate developer worldwide, but the joy of life was gone for Daniel. He was still lonely, and the terms of his ouster as Commander meant he couldn't actually engage in police work.

 

Still, Daniel decided he had to keep a brave face and continue on. He kept telling himself that one day things would get better. He resolved to himself to never give up, even when life tells him his resistance may be futile.

 

January 22, 2016,

10:12 local time,

Emerald Dawn Cafe,

Raith, The League of the North Ontario Outback

 

“It's a mistake to call us 'violent',” said Danforth Grayson during a webcast interview with The Great Lakes' largest broadcast network, Channel 5, itself being broadcast on the bar's TV screens. “If you look at many of the things we do, there have been a lot of non-violent acts, even charitable ones. The Virus surely do not condone violence.”

“So what do you say,” said interviewer Paul Gardiner, “about the many violent acts that have been carried out in The Virus' name, such as the murder of billionaire Robert Gorsky in Warsaw by some of his factory workers, or the armed robbery of the Central Bank of Mumbai? Do you disown them? Will you disavow such acts?”

 

Grayson laughed, still calm as ever.

 

“I know what you are trying to do,” said Grayson, “you are trying to force an answer from me that I know you will only spin to further your own agenda. It's what every journalist does. It doesn't matter what answer I give you because you already have the answer you want.”

 

Gardiner was visibly frustrated.

 

“Yes,” said Gardiner, “but the public needs to know. If you sit here and announce in no uncertain terms that you disavow the violence, then the public will not associate you with them.”

“Is that so?” said Grayson, not fazed.

“Yes,” said Gardiner, doing his best to keep his composure.

“I don't think that is,” said Grayson. “I'm a veteran of the Internet...I know how it works. The people have already made their decision on where I stand. It would be useless for me to correct them, since those who spout the incorrectness won't bother to find out that themselves.”

“...but you can easily tell us what the correct position is,” said Gardiner. “You can be on the record with it and clarify for everyone what the group truly stands for.”

 

Grayson smiled.

 

“I don't have to,” said Grayson, “because I won't play that game. What I do know is that people like you who are afraid of us seek reassurance, and I won't give that to you. I have finally given the people who have been oppressed and marginalized their strength, and I tell them to use it however way they see fit. I will not, nor will I ever, allow the elites to feel comfortable about who they are and where they stand. They created this mess and have steadfastly refused to fix it...therefore, we will fix it for them. If that makes them uncomfortable, then so be it. Because those that wrong others should never feel comfortable.”

 

“Can you believe that?” said Daniel Duke to his server, River, as the svelte redhead brought him his coffee.

“Who are they,” said River as she laid down the coffee.

“The Virus,” said Daniel. “Some online group that's flourished lately on social media. They got all these hashtags and stuff...mostly just college kids who don't know better and young people too young to know any better...Danforth Grayson founded it after the police fabricated all this evidence against his parents and got  them wrongfully convicted.”

“Wrongfully convicted?” said River, “how do you know?”

“I read that case,” said Daniel. “It was a setup the whole time...the Graysons were philanthropists but they were vocal critics of the United States government. Since the U.S. was on the brink of collapse, they ruthlessly took out their enemies...one of whom were the Graysons.”

 

River was left speechless, disgusted as much as Daniel was at what she heard.

 

“So what happened to Grayson?” she asked, trying to change the topic.

“Well,” said Daniel, adjusting himself in his chair. “Danny became a successful criminal defence lawyer, but The Virus' real achievement was providing a resource to allow people to successfully evade criminal prosecution. Danny says that The Virus is merely there so people can take justice into their own hands, which is well-intentioned, but I fear it could get out of control. If The Virus becomes all about requiring criminal acts and violent conduct to right the wrongs of society, we could be on the path to anarchy.”

“Yes,” said River, “but if the system is failing, then you have to get rid of the system.”

“No,” said Daniel, “if the system is failing, you fix the system. You don't throw it out.”

“What if the system is too broken to be fixed?” said River with a wry smile.

 

Daniel was stunned to speechlessness, and offered no response other than thanking River for the coffee. He was already quite taken by her, as she was dressed in the cafe's standard uniform of a halter-style bikini, a “barely there” miniskirt, briefs and knee-length stockings, all coloured pink with patterns of light pink hearts. Her shoes were anti-slip loafers, magenta in colour and the industry standard. River complimented her look with her red hair tied in a ponytail, thick enough for her to stash her pencil and her notepad.

 

Now he couldn't help but notice her smarts, and feel for her as he felt that she had been wronged by this world. Daniel reflected on River's perspective of her situation.

 

She was probably tricked by a huckster to come here with promises that she would flourish...or worse, forcibly kidnapped and stuck here. Regardless, she's likely only here as a means to stay alive, because she's a slave and her handlers aren't going to let her leave. The only thing I can hope for is that she's got some nice handlers who will take care of her every now and then, but I can't imagine that would make her want to be here in any capacity. She likely left behind a life that, while it may not have been pretty, was a life she could call her own, and now that was taken away from her...no amount of “paradising” can change that.

 

He sighed.

 

Daniel was with River that the system just isn't working, since it seemed obvious to him that the Laker system was failing. The population of the Great Lakes was already getting restless at their governments’ inability to solve their demographic crisis and kowtow to the whims of a wider world that just “didn't understand”, although Daniel often thought it's the Lakers, who fail to see their own shortcomings, as the ones who truly “didn't understand”. He dreamed of the day that a new future could be ushered in, one where the abuses of Nathanism could be no more and the Great Lakes could be a place where women truly wanted to live.

 

It's a future that he hopes now River could be a part of. Maybe I need to come back to this bar, thought Daniel as he enjoyed his coffee. A tip from a friend pointed him here, one of many bars in the Great Lakes that offered “comfort girls”, female servers who, if they were really taken by their customers, could be convinced to perform “extra” duties for them on top of just serving them coffee, meals or beer.

 

Daniel often scoffed at these bars since often the women were trafficked and thus the bar faced a shutdown after only a few weeks, but his friend- someone who he trusted on these matters- assured him that Emerald Dawn was here to stay.

 

Besides, unless he won “The Lottery” or had a family friend willing to sell him their sister, there was no other way he was going to meet a woman.

 

So why not check it out again? He knew he wasn't getting any younger...so why not?

 

February 14, 2016,

06:49 local time,

Tiny Tim's Grocery,

Bay City, Empire of Michigan

 

“Hey Daniel,” said “Tiny” Tim Burrows, the big, burly dark-skinned man who owned the local grocery store that was Daniel's favourite. Tiny Tim heartily gave Daniel a wave as he walked into the store, which put a smile on Daniel's groggy face.

 

“Hey Tiny Tim,” said Daniel as the two heartily embraced. “You're up early.”

“My two daytime managers called in sick,” said Tiny Tim, “so I have to cover for them. I think they're just staying home because of the Lottery.”

“Pfft,” said Daniel, “the Lottery...these kids put so much emphasis on it...they think it's the end of the world if they don't win it.”

“I've never won it,” said Tiny Tim, “and I don't care if I ever do.”

“Me too,” said Daniel. “I don't know about you, but I've gotten so used to being alone that I'm not sure I could live any other way...women, they're just trouble.”

“Well, if anyone would know, it's you man,” said Tiny Tim, heartily tapping Daniel's shoulder with the back of his hand. “You've at least had sex...I've never had it.”

 

A patron, a skinny light-skinned man whose age was barely a third of Tiny Tim's 63 years, jumped in to the conversation.

 

“Tiny Tim,” said the man, shock written all over his face, “you've...you've never had sex?”

“Yeah,” said Tiny Tim as if the answer was nothing. “I know, it's hard for you youngins to believe, but it's true...and guess what? I don't care. I had my opportunities then, but I wasted them. Can't go back in time, and I can't control that this country has no women for us to date. That's a government thing...they gotta sort that out and I can't control that they have their heads so far up their a***es. Besides, at my age, who knows if the bits and pieces even work anymore.”

 

Daniel and their new friend both let out laughs at Tiny Tim's last sentence.

 

“Look,” said Tiny Tim, turning serious for a moment. “Simply put, I can't crave what I've never had, and I think getting hung up about it is silly. The government wants us to crave it so that they can push their 'us vs. the world' agenda when it's all really a smokescreen to cover up the fact that their own policies created our demographic crisis in the first place.”

“Demographic crisis,” said the young patron while shaking his head. “If I hear that statement one more time...”

“I hear ya,” said Daniel, “but, as you'll find when you go through life, it's so much easier to blame everyone else rather than look in the mirror.”

“There's so much truth to that,” said the young patron who smiled.

“Besides,” said Tiny Tim, “I find that, without a woman, I can focus on other things. This store is my wife.” Tiny Tim then picked up two cantaloupes and presented them to his two friends. “These melons are the only ones I need.”

 

The two friends again let out a laugh.

 

“What's your name, son?” said Daniel, turning to the young man.

“Chuck,” said Chuck. Daniel and Tiny Tim both shook his hand firmly, expressing their gratitude at meeting Chuck.

“How old are you, Chuck?” said Tiny Tim.

“23,” said Chuck. “I work as an electrician...parents told me to go to college overseas so that I could meet a woman and bring her back here, but it's too much money...so I decided to stay here and learn a trade.”

“Parents, eh?” said Tiny Tim. “So you still have your mother.”

“No,” said Chuck, downtrodden. “She died when she gave birth to me...and my father frequently beat me because of it. I went to a group home after my father went to jail for nearly beating me to death.”

“Oh wow,” said Daniel as both he and Tiny Tim expressed horror.

“Yeah,” said Chuck. “It was pretty bad...my dad was so upset that 'I took his girl from him' even though it truly wasn't my fault...I was a big baby and my birth tore an artery. The doctors also failed to do their job but my dad refused to believe that.”

“I'm so sorry,” said Daniel warmly.

“That's not the worst of it,” said Chuck. “When I went to the group home, I actually met a girl there...only time I had ever met one. We were both 14 at the time. We talked a little bit...became friendly...but then it started to get awkward because I liked her and I think she liked me too.” Chuck then began to tear, his voice cracking as his emotion got the better of him. “Anyway, one day, I tried to give her a hug and she ran away, screaming...next day, she isn't there...I learned she was sold to someone else on a faraway island so I never saw her again.”

 

Chuck lowered his head and began to cry, prompting Tiny Tim to put his arm around him.

 

“It's OK, brother,” he said. “Believe me, you're not alone.”

“If I had a nickel for every time I heard that story, I'd be rich,” said Daniel.

“I just don't understand,” said Chuck through his tears, “I go through that situation every day...I wonder, what did I do wrong? Why was she taken away from me? Why can't I find a girl for myself?”

 

As he continued crying, Daniel had a thought.

 

“Maybe she didn't like you as much as you thought she did,” said Daniel.

 

Chuck looked at him with shock. “What?” he said. “What do you mean?”

 

“If she ran away from you, screaming, after you tried giving her a hug, I don't think she liked you,” said Daniel pointedly. “I mean, it's drastic, but running away screaming isn't the kind of thing that someone who likes you would do. If she liked you, she'd reciprocate, or at least tell you it's 'too soon'.”

 

Chuck took a deep breath, which calmed him down a little.

 

“You're right,” he said. “I guess I never stood a chance.”

“I know it's not what you like to hear,” said Daniel, “and the Laker governments like to tell us that we're all 'owed' a girl...but, truth is, women are humans too...they can make choices for themselves and, unfortunately for us, that means that if they don't want to be around us, there's nothing we can do. I get it...it's tough. When there's no women around you start to over-analyze the times we do run into women, but we need to remember that sometimes- heck, many times- it's not us, it's them and we just have to accept that. Many times, there's really just nothing we can do except move on...so we move on.”

“Easy for you to say,” said Chuck. “The rest of the world at least gives us men a chance at finding another woman because they have women...us? The Great Lakes? Where am I going to find a woman in the Great Lakes?”

“Comfort girls,” said Daniel with a shrug.

“Comfort girls?” said Chuck with an incredulous look. “They're tightly controlled, and they only flirt with you for your money anyway. Besides, every 'comfort girl' bar I know gets shut down in a week because those girls were trafficked.”

“The one time I went to a comfort girl bar I got into a fight with three idiots who thought I was flirting with 'their girl',” said Tiny Tim. “I beat them good, but the bar staff just stood there doing nothing...I figure it's not worth the trouble.”

“Hey,” said Daniel a restrained chuckle, “I didn't say the format was perfect...I'm just saying they're there.”

 

Time then seemingly stopped as an announcement came on the TV. It was time for the Great Lakes' annual “lottery”, where men with a certain ticket would be granted a date with an eligible, local Laker woman. The way the lottery worked was simple- eligible Laker males would buy a ticket, upon which a symbol was printed on it. What symbol it was varied every year- some years they were pictures of plants, other years they were cartoon figures of various different types (including famous cartoon characters), and some other years they were letters. What was more important was that one had a symbol matching the ones- and there were always multiple ones- that would be revealed live on TV.

 

This year, they were pictures of animals.

 

Daniel, Chuck and Tiny Tim all pulled out their tickets. Daniel had a giraffe on his, Chuck had a walrus while Tiny Tim had a mongoose. They all had a chuckle over their symbols- Tiny Tim remarked he thought the mongoose looked more like a skunk than an actual mongoose- but they quickly resumed paying attention to the TV screen.

 

“All right Lakers,” said the voice-over announcer as a buxom bikini-clad woman stepped towards a large wheel. “Time to see who wins the lottery! Rose, spin the wheel!”

 

Rose flashed a wide smile, seemingly gleefully walking towards the wheel. She was actually the wife of the voice-over announcer, Todd Brendan, who drugged and kidnapped her several years ago when Brendan visited a beach in India. Rose was a destitute woman at the time and, though she lived in comfort with Brendan, she hardly lived with any kind of pleasure, as Brendan's deep anxiety about losing her made him very controlling of her.

 

Rose then spun the wheel, and the first animal was revealed: the spider.

 

“The spider?” said Daniel as his companions all gave confused looks.

“That's not a good sign,” said Chuck. “We've all got mammals...that thing drew an insect.

“Relax,” said Tiny Tim. “It's random chance...there's nothing that's been 'determined' yet.”

 

It then came time for the second animal to be revealed, which turned out to be the skunk. It looked identical to Tiny Tim's ticket, except that his ticket read “mongoose” on it, which made Tiny Tim think his ticket was printed in error. He had little time to argue about it in the moment, because the third animal was about to be drawn.

 

“C'mon, c'mon,” said all three of the men, calling for their animal to be drawn as they all watched with intense anticipation. The wheel seemed to take forever to slow down and come to a stop, with the men wondering if it ever actually would.

 

It did, causing each of the men to have their heart rates reach their crescendo. As it finally came to that stop, the wheel moved slower and slower before it came to a rest, with hope rising with each passing symbol that the symbol it eventually came to a rest on would be the winning one.

 

It was particularly gruelling for Daniel, as he saw the giraffe come and go many times. As the wheel was stopping, there was even a moment when the giraffe might actually be the winning symbol.

 

Alas, Daniel came one rung short.

 

“The wolf?” said Daniel, chucking his ticket to the floor in anger. “What on Gaia's green Earth is this? That stupid woman...she purposefully spun that wheel too hard! She's trying to screw me out of a wife!”

 

Chuck just shook his head as the TV announcement recapped the winning symbols- the spider, the skunk and the wolf. As it recapped, Rose took off her clothes and pranced around naked so that viewers would keep their eyes on the screen. Though she looked happy, deep down inside she wasn't, as she felt demeaned being forced to shed her clothes on live TV, plus she knew after the announcement that Brendan was going to have sex with her right there in the studio.

 

“At least the voice-over guy is happy,” said Chuck. “Tim, what are you going to do?”

“Well,” said Tiny Tim, “I gotta write a formal complaint. I got printed the right ticket, just with the wrong caption. They have to reimburse me for that.”

“Let me know how that goes,” said Daniel as Chuck concurred.

“Will do guys,” said Tiny Tim, “will do.”

 

February 23, 2018,

10:09 local time,

Amanda Isley Dating Services,

City of Marian, Marian Capitol Region, Republic of Marian

 

Daniel Duke let out a deep breath as he got to the front entrance. Two more years of lottery misfortune was bad enough for him, but River no longer working at Emerald Dawn was even worse. The worst part for Daniel was that there was no warning- River just stopped working at the cafe, and nobody could tell Daniel why that happened.

 

Daniel cried for days once he realized she was gone, before deciding that sulking wasn't going to fix the issues in his life. A new series of matchmaking businesses had sprung up across the Great Lakes and especially in The Republic of Marian which seemingly fixed the Great Lakes' demographic issues overnight, and Daniel was told that this time the services were legal, so he decided this time to give them a go.

 

Once inside, he was greeted by the store's owner, Amanda Isley. She was quite the stunner, her beautiful, flowing red hair contrasting nicely against her pure white skin, clad in shimmering green bikini bottoms and top, along with green knee-length boots and green elbow-length gloves. Daniel made a joke about how much she was worth, to which Amanda laughed and coyly stated she was too good to put a price tag on, which Daniel agreed with.

 

Amanda then led Daniel past the reception desk- arm-in-arm as she did so- and into an office where Daniel went for an interview. Once he was there, he was given two choices: one, he could simply have a date, upon which he could select whatever woman he wanted, or two, he could get married, where he'd have to go through a more formal interview and fill out some questionnaires to better gauge his personality and whom he might more favourably match up with.

 

Daniel took his time to weigh his options. If he wanted a virgin, his only option was to marry her. If he simply wanted a date, he could take a woman into a special “date room” where he could spend some time with her- paying by the hour- where the proceeding would be video recorded for his protection and the woman's protection.

 

Daniel was then told that he could marry a woman after he had three “dates” with her- at which point a discount would be applied to the marriage fee- but he was warned that if another person snagged that woman before he did, he'd be out of luck.

 

So Daniel decided that, even though marriage was easily the most expensive option- whereas dates would come in at $100 an hour, marriage would cost 100 times as much, though payment plans were available. Daniel figured he couldn't put a price tag on love- or, rather, curing his loneliness- so he simply agreed to pay the full cost, as he had the ability to do so without much hassle.

 

After filling out the requisite paperwork- half-heartedly, it turns out, as Daniel was too excited to meet the women- Amanda left briefly to run the tests and select the prospective women. Since Daniel rushed through the tests, Amanda had to come back and receive more definitive answers. Daniel apologized for the trouble, but Amanada wasn't concerned, as most of her male customers race through the tests.

 

“Male customers?” said Daniel, intrigued by what Amanda told him. “So you have female customers?”

“Yes,” said Amanda. “We serve everyone...including women. We have a stable of men available for our female clients to select...unless the client wants another woman, as we cater to homosexual needs as well.”

“Ah,” said Daniel. “I see.”

“Yeah,” said Amanda. “The women tend to take the tests a bit more seriously...they tend to care about personality, though, make no mistake, they do care about attractiveness too. Men, more often than not, tend to go for looks first, and I always warn against it because they need to make sure they'll get along with someone they're going to marry.”

 

Daniel nodded in acknowledgement, upon which Amanda left to fetch his results. Once she returned, he was then taken to a room where five women stood before him, all naked.

 

“Only five?” said Daniel.

“You're lucky,” said Amanda. “Most people only get two or three. You're not very picky.”

“I see,” said Daniel, who then examined the room.

 

Daniel looked up and down each woman, though he was hesitant and awkward in his approach. Since he didn't know any of the women, he didn't want to cross any lines, but Amanda told him that they were there for him and he shouldn't be afraid to touch them. After all, he was selecting a wife- someone he had to be comfortable with in every way possible.

 

“Don't be shy, Danny,” said Amanda. “If you want to feel around, go for it.”

“...but what if they don't want me to?” said Daniel.

“You're here to find one you connect with,” said Amanda. “So don't worry about rejection...the one you want won't reject you.”

 

One of the women- a red-haired Irishwoman- grew restless and grabbed Daniel's hand, thrusting it on to her vagina and fitting one of his fingers inside. Daniel was shocked at first, but as the redhead played with his hand, he decided to go with it and began fingering the woman himself.

 

“Oh yeah, baby,” said the redhead, moaning under her breath as Daniel pleasured her. “C'mon, c'mon Danny...pick me, pick me...I know you want to.”

 

The redhead then leaned in and began kissing Daniel, which went on for several moments. Daniel enjoyed the moment, but he felt the Irishwoman was too pushy.

 

He then approached another woman, who backed off from him so Daniel paid her no attention. He found himself unattracted to the next woman, so he moved on to the next one- a buxom brunette who spoke with a sexy Italian accent.

 

“Oh, you handsome devil you!” said the brunette, who then thrusted Daniel's head right in between her breasts, which she then used to smack his head several times. “Enjoy me, enjoy me, tesoro! I'm all yours!”

 

Daniel definitely did enjoy the brunette and her breasts, nibbling at them and sucking on them and doing all kinds of things to them with his mouth and his hands, all while the brunette screamed in ecstasy. Daniel then asked her where in Italy she was from but her answer threw her off.

 

“Castel Stupido,” she said, which drew a strange look from Daniel. She clearly made up the city, as the name translated to “stupid castle”- an odd name for a place. Daniel then went away from her, put off by her deception.

 

He then laid his eyes on the last woman, a shapely, busty blonde with glimmering eyes and even more inviting smile. Daniel was struck by her the instant he saw her, as was the woman. They needn't exchange any words as sparks flew everywhere between them quite effortlessly, the attraction mutual and instant.

 

The two then locked each other in a tight, warm embrace, which led to both of them kissing each other passionately for several minutes. As the two enraptured themselves in love, Amanda couldn't help but watch with wonder and awe, her heart taken by the show of affection by the two lovers. It was very rare for her to see two people genuinely connect in such a deep and encompassing way, but when it did happen, it was nothing but magical.

 

When the two of them finished kissing- which felt like an eternity, a grateful one for the blonde and Daniel- the two continued to lock eyes, so entirely smitten by each other. Daniel didn't want the moment to end and neither did the blonde, but Amanda had to step in because Daniel had to finish his paperwork.

 

“I take it you found the one you wanted,” said Amanda, once back inside her office.

“Yeah,” said Daniel, still starstruck by the meeting “Yeah I did. That's what it means to connect...to really connect. I never felt like that before...thank you, thank you Amanda. Really, thank you.”

“Hey,” said Amanda, who was all smiles, taken by Daniel's happiness. “The pleasure is all mine. I love making people happy.”

 

Amanda then sighed, a concern Daniel picked up on.

 

“The Republic of Marian is going to have its first Presidential vote since before World War II,” said Amanda, “and all the candidates so far want to shut businesses like mine down. I just sometimes wonder if only they could see the happiness I bring, and how well I treat my girls and guys...people can be so stuck up about sex.”

 

“I'll run!” said Daniel definitively. “I know I'm a Roman citizen...but I think I want to live here in The Republic of Marian. I bought a place in El Requeson and I love it.”

“Are you sure you're not just giddy about finding your wife?” said Amanda, who wanted to be excited about Daniel's proclamation but she still had her doubts.

“No,” said Daniel with strong conviction. “No, this isn't me being giddy. This is me protecting what's right. This country gave me the person I love...and I'm going to make sure it continues to do so. It's time we moved into the future.”

 

Amanda smiled, as she knew Daniel was telling the truth about his intentions.

 

Daniel then got up, ready to leave after signing all the paperwork. Before he did, he turned back to Amanda and asked one last question.

 

“By the way,” said Daniel. “What's my wife's name? I never asked her...I feel so bad about that.”

“Coral,” said Amanda. “Her name is Coral...and, don't worry about it. I know you two will be absolute magic together and you will both be happy for the rest of your lives.”

 

July 19, 2018,

09:08 local time,

Marian Gazette Interview Room,

City of Marian, Marian Capitol Region, Republic of Marian

 

“Hello,” said Marian Gazette reporter Valerie Vale, recording an interview that will be posted just in time for the noon lunch hour. “I'm Valerie Vale for the Marian Gazette, here for another edition of 'Where Are They Now?', where we bring in people who withdrew from the spotlight and we...tell you what they're up to!”

 

Vale let out a schoolgirl's giggle before she continued with the interview.

 

“Joining me today is none other than Molly Brillinger,” said Vale as the camera panned to Molly, who smiled and waved for the camera. “How's it going, Molly?”

 

“You know,” said Molly, “it's been a whirlwind for the past few months...but I'm glad I'm here in The Republic of Marian, nice and settled and able to move on with my life.”

“Yeah you had quite the turmoil over the past few years,” said Vale. “You retired from volleyball and then you got into this messy, messy divorce with your ex, one that you finally concluded just this year. You have a family with three beautiful children and now I understand, you got married as well!”

 

Molly smiled, feeling very comfortable in front of the camera.

 

“That is true,” said Molly. “His name is Rob...Amanda Isley set me up with him and he's been nothing but a blessing. He's so friendly...charming...outgoing...so full of energy. He makes me laugh all the time and really does all he can to make me happy. Really, I couldn't have asked for a better person to have in my life.”

 

The interview then paused for the point where Molly's new family photo would be inserted into the video in post production. There they would see Molly's three children- two girls and a boy, the boy the youngest at 2 and the girls aged 3 and 4- alongside Rob, a muscular black man with a dirty blonde ponytail and a winning smile, and Molly, who had rested her head on Rob's shoulder and couldn't look any happier.

 

“Before we get to Rob,” said Vale, whose tone became serious, “let's turn to volleyball. You retired from the sport shortly after you got married in 2013. A year later you gave birth to your first child, Madison. At the time you said you were content with your decision to retire, but I'm sensing that really wasn't the case.”

 

“No Val,” said Molly, whose mood turned dour. She let out a deep sigh, as the topic was difficult to discuss- but she wanted to discuss it so she soldiered on.

 

“No Val,” continued Molly, “I didn't want to retire. I was still doing very well in Cape Breton...we finally won the World League Championship and I felt the team that we had was good enough to repeat. I was only 32, so I had a lot left to give...but...”

 

Tears began to form in Molly's eyes, which she wiped away but they still continued to flow.

 

“...but,” said Molly, her voice cracking at times, “but my husband really wanted a family. He pressured me and pressured me, going to great lengths to 'convince' me to have a child. I didn't fall for any of that, because I'm smarter than he thinks but that just led...”

 

Molly then buried her head in her hands and bawled her eyes out. Vale asked Molly if she needed a moment, to which Molly immediately protested that she did not.

 

“He held me down and he raped me right on my bed,” said Molly. “At that point, I had no choice...I would have had to take a year off from volleyball anyway, so I just decided to retire.”

 

“Oh, by Jove,” said Vale, who reacted with genuine shock and disgust, “I can't believe that. So what happened next?”

 

“I never told anyone what happened,” said Molly. “I knew they wouldn't believe me...Darrell was a cop, and Wales doesn't recognize marital rape. Thankfully, Cape Breton paid me for the remaining years on my contract, but that only gave me more headaches, as Darrell insisted the money was his. Eventually Darrell got more controlling and more abusive, which caused me to simply give up on him. Two more kids later and I was done- I filed for divorce after my third pregnancy, moved here to The Republic of Marian, met Rob and the rest is history.”

 

“What happened to the money?” said Vale.

“Thankfully the courts didn't give Darrell a pass for his abuse,” said Molly, “so I got all my money back plus some more from Darrell. They wanted to give me our house too but I said no because I had too many bad memories there.”

 

“So up you left,” said Vale, “and then you met Rob. How was that like?”

“I don't know how they do it,” said Molly, “but The Republic of Marian gets the reality of today's dating world...no one goes out anymore, we're way too busy. So we go to a matchmaker, and Amanda Isley...wow, she's the best. You just go to her, you tell her what you're looking for in a mate...you fill out some forms, do a personality test...and then she matches you with someone, and you get options too. You meet with them for a while and then you select the one you want to marry...upon which you have the ceremony right then and there. You can go in that morning and be married by dinner...it's great.”

 

“So what attracted you to Rob? He sure looks like a keeper,” said Vale.

“Well,” said Molly, whose mood brightened as soon as she started talking about Rob, “I've always had a thing for black men...just something about their skin colour that makes them so exotic. Rob never told me where he's from, but he looks so African, and I love Africa. The people, they're just so nice and friendly...and not just the Casarans either. I always loved visiting Great Zimbabwe when I competed, and Rob reminded me a lot of the people there. Plus, just look at him...look at him! His body...it's so perfect and chiselled, I just can't keep my hands off him! Fortunately for me, he can't keep his hands off me either, and I love it! I could spend all day snuggling and cuddling with my man...oh, and stroking him. Because he may have a big heart, but he's got an even bigger you know what!”

“OK!” said Vale with a playful laugh, “that may be a bit too much information! Good to know, though.”

“Plus,” said Molly, redfaced over Vale's reaction, requiring a moment to compose herself, “he always has a great joke or words of wisdom to help me through my day, and he's so great doing all the household chores...I couldn't have asked for a better man!”

 

Vale smiled, her heart melted over Molly's effusive show of love for Rob. Before she had a chance to ask another question, Molly spoke again.

 

“You know,” said Molly, “people criticize The Republic of Marian and say we're nothing but 'slave traders'...you know, in all those other countries where it's supposedly 'easier to date'...how many of you have found love? How many of you found people you actually enjoy dating? Besides...Rob tells me he's over the moon about how happy he is that he met me and that he's now living a great life in The Republic of Marian...he tells me the life he gave up was so miserable that he'd never want to go back to it. So I see it as we're helping people out and helping everyone be happy. Plus the weather is great around here...I don't think I could ask for a better country.”

 

November 6, 2019.

20:44 local time,

Alfred Edwards’ Apartment,

City of Marian, Marian Capitol Region, Republic of Marian

 

“C'mon now,” said Alfred Edwards, banging on the door to the room of his daughter, Niege. “Food's going to get cold. I'm not going to keep it out forever.”

“How many times do I have to tell you,” said Niege through her door, “I'm not hungry!”

 

At this point Alfred decided he had enough with being courteous so he decided to walk right in.

 

What he did walk in to was Niege lying in her bed, underneath her covers and her clothes strewn across the floor. Her makeup had been running, indicating that she was crying, with her cell phone laying on the table beside her, not hooked up to its charger.

 

“OK, all right,” said Alfred, grabbing a chair and sitting down next to Niege. “What's happened?”

 

Niege hardly gave Alfred a glance, opting to stew silently in her bed

 

Alfred let out a sigh, as it always pained him to see his children go through agony. He pondered what could be bothering Niege, but he didn't have to ponder for long.

 

“It's Bruce, isn't it?” said Alfred, referring to Niege's boyfriend, Bruce McCrain.

 

Niege took in a deep breath and sniffled a bit, composing herself enough to speak.

 

“You know dad, maybe you're right,” she said. “You kept telling me...Bruce is a Laker, he's only going to break your heart. Every Laker male...every Nathanite...they're just going to control you. I kept telling you, 'no, you're wrong! Bruce is different!”

 

“...but?” said Alfred.

 

“I was at his practice today,” said Niege, “and there was this guy. I think he was just a fan of Bruce or something...anyway, he started talking to me and he seemed like a nice guy so I talked to him too. Just friendly chitchat...nothing major. Definitely nothing scandalous...I even told him I had a boyfriend and he wasn't bothered...he understood right away. I even decided to add him as a friend on social media...he was a pretty cool guy.

 

“Anyway, practice is finished and I say my goodbye to him. I give him a hug because I enjoyed his company...nothing out of the ordinary. Then I walk up to Bruce and, after we kissed, Bruce asked me and I quote, 'what do you think you're doing hugging that guy'?

 

“I told him, 'you can't tell me who I can and can't hug'...and he responds by saying that 'yes I can because I'm your boyfriend. If I'm not comfortable you have to respect that.' So I just turned around, walked away angrily and walked out of the stadium back here and I cried my eyes out until you got home.

 

“I mean, Dad...tell me I'm right...or, am I right?”

 

Alfred let out another sigh and pursed his lips, pondering his response. He did warn Niege about Bruce being Laker, but as he got to know Bruce, he did actually seem to be different.

 

“I think you're right,” said Alfred. “Bruce certainly has no business telling you who you can and can't hug...that's entirely your decision.”

 

“...but?” said Niege, anticipating that response from Alfred.

 

“There's no 'but',” said Alfred. “Has Bruce apologized?”

“I don't know,” said Niege. “I haven't looked at my phone since I got back home. It may even be dead.”

 

“No matter,” said Alfred. “I'm not sure if this has anything to do with his heritage...he's just a young boy. Definitely wise beyond his years but he's still just a kid...and kids, they get paranoid. When I was that young, I was worried every hour of every day that my girlfriend was going to leave me and I constantly got paranoid that the next guy she talked to was going to be the one she ran away with. It was only when I got older did I realize it was absolute rubbish...I'm sure Bruce will learn that too.

 

“...but first he has to apologize. He at least has to show the understanding that his line of thinking was wrong.”

 

Niege picked up her phone and realized she was right- her battery did run out so she'd need to charge it for a bit before she could turn it on and see if Bruce sent any messages. Before she could, there was a knock on the front door.

 

It was Bruce, still in his Marian City Football Club uniform.

 

“Bruce,” said Alfred when he answered the door, “it's a school night, shouldn't you be in bed? Won’t your mother be worried sick about you?”

“No,” said Bruce. “I told them I was spending some extra time practising at the stadium. Truth is, I couldn't stop thinking about Niege and how wrong I was with her. I tried calling her so many times but she wouldn't pick up, so I came here as soon as I could. Is she home?”

“My phone's dead,” said Niege, who threw on a dress to greet Bruce. “I came home and forgot to charge it. I'm sorry.”

“No, no, no,” said Bruce, tears forming in his eyes, “I...I'm the one who should be apologizing. There's no excuse for what I did. It was shameful and reprehensible...I let my feelings get the better of me.”

 

Niege smiled and chuckled warmly as Bruce lowered his head and continued to weep. She felt that Bruce's remorse was genuine and she was struck by it, so she sought to reassure him.

 

“Bruce,” she said, wrapping her arms around Bruce's head. “It's OK...I understand. I don't want you to ever worry...no matter who I meet, I'll always go back to you. I love you...and I always will.”

 

Bruce looked up, looking Niege right in the eyes. His eyes were still watery, but this time he had a smile on his face.

 

The two then locked each other in a tight embrace and began kissing passionately. Alfred smiled watching the display, happy that his daughter was happy and seeing the magic of young love right before his eyes. The two continued kissing for quite some time and even got a little handsy, before Bruce abruptly stopped.

 

“It's a school night,” he said, catching his breath as Niege smiled. “Too late for that...besides, I'm all stinky and I still have to walk home...”

“I'll drive you Bruce,” said Alfred, grabbing his keys from his jacket inside the apartment before closing the door.

“It's OK,” said Niege, who gave Bruce one last kiss and a hug before they parted. “I love you no matter how stinky you are...but you are right, it is a school night. I'll see you tomorrow...and maybe we can go to our special spot?”

“Special spot?” said Alfred who gave the two a look as Bruce nodded in agreement with Niege. “What is this 'special spot'?”

 

Niege then walked over to Alfred and kissed his cheek before opening the door.

 

“C'mon Dad,” she said with a smile. “Don't act like you didn't sneak around when you were younger.”

 

Alfred then smiled as Niege closed the door, acknowledging she had a point. He then walked with Bruce towards his car in order to drive him back home.

 

November 6, 2019,

22:44 local time,

The Honey Parlour,

City of Marian, Marian Capitol Region, Republic of Marian

 

“There's the woman of the hour,” said Danforth Grayson, getting up to greet his guest, Anahi Maria. “Anahi, I'd like you to meet my other guest, Haven.”

 

Anahi smiled at Haven and shook her hand, but otherwise said nothing before sitting down. There was a lot of power sitting at the table, with Grayson being the leader of The Virus and Haven, dressed in a long, silky dress, lots of fancy jewellery, an authentic snow leopard fur coat and matching scarf, known as “the richest criminal in the world” owing to her investment exploits.

 

Anahi figured that Grayson and Haven were now working together, which is why they sat together. The question Anahi had was what Grayson and Haven wanted out of her.

 

“You're probably wondering what brings you here,” said Grayson, deciding to cut to the chase. “Simply put, I'm proud of your work.”

“Thanks,” said Anahi, confused if that really was a compliment.

“No, really,” said Grayson, “Doing all that work in Empire City and finding a way to get out of there scot-free...that takes some skill.”

“Pfft,” said Anahi, scoffing at the suggestion. “It was nothing...just playing the police at their own game and stringing along an absolute idiot who'd do anything to get his d*** wet.”

“That's still got to take some skill,” said Haven. “Fooling the magistrates into giving you immunity...that's not easy.”

“Thanks,” said Anahi, more sincerely. “Though I try not to think too highly of myself...it keeps me grounded.”

 

The conversation was interrupted when the main act of the bar's “Amateur Night” came to the stage. She was Esme Emica, a shapely woman with pure white skin, wearing nothing but a strapless bikini top, bikini bottoms, knee-high boots, gloves and ornaments all over her arms, all of it coloured in one shade of blue or another, except her gloves which were the original brown leather. Her hair in pigtails was coloured blue, adorned with shimmering white wreaths, with her lips a deep red, and her face painted white, with black points extending from the top and bottom of both of her eyes. On her body was a red heart-shaped tattoo around her navel with blue streaks emanating across her stomach from both sides of the heart, with a blue rose tattoo across her chest and another one on her legs- designed so when her legs did come together, the rose design would be complete.

 

Esme had in her hands a blunt metallic sword that, with the press of a button, would emit fire, which Esme would use as the focal point to her dance routine. She pranced around on stage for well over half an hour, mesmerizing the crowd with her graceful, elegant movements. When her performance was finished, the crowd erupted with thunderous, boisterous applause, which Esme greeted by putting her hands on her chest and then with blowing kisses into the crowd before leaving to the backstage.

 

“That was quite the performance,” said Anahi.

“Just like you,” said Haven. “Harley Quinn.”

 

Anahi turned and gave Haven a look, as if she had seen a ghost. Frozen in her seat, she wanted to muster a response, but her thoughts raced by too quickly for any of them to coalesce.

 

“We know who you are, Anahi,” said Grayson, “or, should I say, 'Scarlet'?”

 

Anahi was caught further off guard. These two not only knew who she was but also how she operated. Anahi made a name for herself as a con artist, having the unique ability to create many different characters and aliases that allowed her to seamlessly operate in any setting she needed to operate in. “Anahi Maria” was the name she used when leading a “regular” life, while “Scarlet”- as in “Scarlet Moon”- is the name she uses in the criminal underworld. The only exceptions were when she went on a specific mission, in which case she'd craft a specific character.

 

One of those being Harley Quinn.

 

“Anahi,” said Haven, reassuringly, “don't be alarmed. This is why we want to work with you. You have the unique ability to play so many different characters and not get crossed up in them...you have a gift, a gift that Danny and I want to put to good use.”

 

Anahi was still in a state of shock, but her reading of Haven and Grayson was that they were indeed genuine in their intentions. Haven and Grayson were the last two people she'd expect to turn her to the police.

 

“OK,” said Anahi, playing along, “what exactly do you want me to do for you?”

 

Grayson waved his hands in protest.

 

“No, no, no,” he said. “This isn't you serving us. This is us as a team. We're in this together. I have the manpower. Haven has the money...and you, you have the creativity. Besides, every good team needs its heavy and its infiltrator...there's no one better at both than you.”

“I appreciate the platitudes,” said Anahi, “but you still haven't told me about what the plan is. I'm not joining the Injustice League without knowing what's in it for me.”

“We'll get to that,” said Haven assuredly, “but first, I can tell you that it involves lots and lots of money.”

 

Anahi was suddenly intrigued, so she leaned closer and the trio discussed their plan.

 

November 7, 2019,

02:58 local time,

Outside The Honey Parlour,

City of Marian, Marian Capitol Region, Republic of Marian

 

“All right, Wyatt,” said Coleman as he drove into a parking spot outside the bar. “You better not be wasting my time.”

“I'm not,” said Endgame. “Danforth Grayson really is in there...my source assures me. He'll be able to explain everything I told you.”

“About this stupid 'farm' and whatever it is you've been rambling on about,” said Coleman, “about half of which I understand because I'm jetlagged as f***.”

“Oh don't worry,” said Endgame. “I don't understand it all myself...I got it all second-hand myself and I wonder how much of it is true or not.”

“Well,” said Coleman, “let's go find out.”

 

As soon as Coleman and Endgame stepped out of the car, a woman's voice stopped both in their tracks.

 

“Oh no, no, no,” said Cuddles, a vigilante mercenary just like Endgame who had her gun drawn. “None of you are going anywhere.”

 

“I'm sorry, but,” said Coleman as both he and Endgame put their hands in the air, “who are you?”

“I'm Cuddles,” said Cuddles with a smug smile, “but I'm anything but nice.”

 

Coleman gave his head a shake, finding the name odd but figured now was not the time to debate that.

 

“Listen, Cuddles,” said Coleman, “I'm Captain Zeke Coleman of the MCPD...I can help you out, get you whatever you need...there's no need for anyone to get hurt.”

 

Cuddles chuckled sardonically.

 

“You're right,” said Cuddles with a smug smile, “and I'm not going to hurt you.”

 

She then shot her gun at Coleman, intentionally grazing him in the shoulder, knocking him back and opening up a gash. Meanwhile, Cuddles and Endgame ran away from the scene and by the time Coleman had his wits about him, they were well out of sight.

 

“You missed,” said Endgame once the pair found a safe spot to hide. “You missed badly.”

“No,” said Cuddles, “I did that on purpose...because my mission was simply to find you...the cop is meaningless.”

“He's a witness, though,” said Endgame. “You'll be in as much trouble as I am.”

 

Cuddles then gave Endgame a look.

 

“Wyatt,” she said. “I'm already in knee-deep trouble because I came after you. Killing a cop adds to that and, furthermore, I'm not killing someone that doesn't deserve it.”

 

Cuddles then waved Endgame towards a car that she effortlessly broke in to. Both of them understood the urgency of the situation, so they wasted no time getting into the car.

 

“They're going to set up a perimeter around the city in ten minutes,” said Cuddles. “I know how to get out of here in five. Once we're past city limits we can discuss our plan.”

“Plan?” said Endgame, confused.

“Yes,” said Cuddles. “You want to shut down that farm, you're going to need my help to do it.”

 

She then started the car and then sped away, getting out of the city before the police could stop them from doing so.

 

Meanwhile, Coleman pulled out his cell phone and called the MCPD dispatch to inform them that he was shot and that Endgame had escaped. Though the wound really only needed stitches it was still excruciatingly painful and Coleman sat on the steps of the bar wincing in agony.

 

Esme, who heard the gunshot, came out and tended to him, applying a cloth to Coleman's open wound.

 

“Thanks,” said Coleman. “It happened so fast...I can't believe I let them get away.”

“What happened?” said Esme, “and you're welcome. I was once a nurse so I know what I'm doing.”

“I was with Endgame,” said Coleman, “then this woman who called herself 'Cuddles'- who names their kid that?- came up to me and shot me, grazing my shoulder. I was dazed and, the next thing I knew, both were gone.”

“Cuddles, eh?” said Esme.

“You know her?” said Coleman.

“I heard of her,” said Esme. “She's a self-described 'hero' like Endgame is...but she doesn't work with the police and doesn't do it for money, like Endgame does. Cuddles' mission is to take on the cases the police won't take up...some call her a hero while others think she's nothing but a villain.”

“Is she one of those 'Norm' types or something that broke free?” said Coleman.

“No,” said Esme, “but she's Irish. She spends most of her time in Third World Europe and the Russian territories....sometimes going to Africa or India. Usually never comes to a developed area like England or Rome because there's no market for her since they have functioning police departments. Surprised she'd even come to Marian because the MCPD is pretty adequate. There must be something big here if she's around.”

“Endgame said something about a farm,” said Coleman. “Do you know anything about that?”

“You're MCPD, aren't you?” said Esme.

“Yeah,” said Coleman. “The Captain. How'd you know?”

“I can see your badge,” said Esme, pointing to the badge affixed to his belt.

“So does that mean I'm going to fight you,” said Coleman, “or are you going to help me?”

“I've got no horse in this race,” said Esme, “but I'm in theatre...I work in the criminal underground quite a bit. I know just as much as you do and I'm just as concerned...so if I hear anything, I'll let you know.”

 

“Knowing who can help and who will only hurt may be the hardest task anyone can make...but it is their most important.”- Wendel Severs, “The Last Bastion of Notre Dame” (1894)