13-09-2019, 07:43 AM
"Then we haven't a moment to lose." Helen said pointing at the Prefect with her cigarette. "Martin, I want every cop available on the street looking for them. If they're moving, they're in the open; which means he's vulnerable right now." She then pointed to the Minister of Intelligence. "Howard, any undercover agents who aren't too busy should be out there as well." She pointed to Ramirez. "I don't think we're going to need the Army or the Ultimados for this, but I want them on standby."
Ortega nodded his understanding. Ramirez did the same, then looked Helen in the eye.
"Contessa," the Generalissimo said evenly. "May I have a word in private?"
Helen put out her cigarette. The last time one of them formally requested a private word with the other, she'd had a gun pointed at him that she'd commanded him to ignore while his hand was on his own. She nodded.
"Certainly, Generalissimo." Helen said, standing up. "Let's take this to my office. Seems to be a trend lately. The rest of you have your instructions; those who don't can do what you want for now. If there's anything else, take it up with Maria. Dismissed."
The two left the War Room for La Contessa's office in the Government Wing.
* * *
La Contessa preferred to work out of her study in the Palace Wing. Helen only visited her office in the Government Wing a couple of times a week; mostly to sign papers and do official things. She only went to her office in the Business Wing a couple of times a month. Unless she could get out of going to that side of the building and having to deal with La Familia.
Ramirez walked over to a low credenza, atop which, a coffee maker stood, and checked that the staff had replaced the water daily and maintained stock of the items he knew he'd need. He then turned it on. It hissed, then clear, heated water began to fill it as he reached for a cup with the crest of La Familia Royale de San Finzione and grabbed the cocoa.
"You've never made me cocoa, Hernando. Violeta always insists."
"I asked Señor Equals for Propappou's recipe a while back. In case I ever needed to do it myself."
"Something's very much on your mind, Hernando. I grew up around a soldier, Generalissimo. You're one of the handful of people who need never ask for my permission to speak freely."
"Si." He replied, scooping some into the empty cup and setting it down before moving to a chair and waiting to be given leave to sit. La Contessa gave it and did the same. "And this is what it is: What does La Contessa believe that she is doing?"
Helen was taken a bit aback by the unusual question and understood why Ramirez heated water for cocoa before beginning. She lit a cigarette before giving her answer.
"I am getting ready to scour the streets and countryside to find an Enemy of San Finzione. One who committed a direct crime against La Contessa herself; and it seems like a good moment to act!"
"Si." Ramirez responded, taking out his cigarettes and lighting one of his own. "By attacking Lady Maria while you were down, he did, indeed, do this. Even if she wasn't Contessa, it would still be a crime against the Monarchy. With consequences just as grave. But now you are upright, back in power, and bringing the full force of the law against him. This is your right as Reigning Monarch. And because you ARE Reigning Monarch; and also the woman I've worked for and alongside these last few years, I know that once we catch him, YOU plan to hold Dietz's trial HERE, don't you? In the Throne Room he left to you! You'll Hold Court and you'll hear his case yourself! For the Good of The People!" Ramirez sensed that his own voice was rising and took it back down a little. "And once there, you shall pronounce judgment based upon the decisions you have already made. Because our laws allow you to do this. Then what? Will you have him executed? Will he join Santori and Igazi where we both know you're keeping them? Or will you stab him and throw him off a building like Whyte?"
"You realize you're defending a Nazi here, right, Hernando?"
"No. I am defending my Contessa from taking a path that her husband would never lead his nation down!"
"He's killed once already! If we blame HIM for the pawns he's already sacrificed and the old man in the hospital if doesn't make it, more than once!" She replied with a drag, anger rising. "He would have killed Maria if she hadn't believed in the family curse all her life! And those two are still alive; they're just being tortured round the clock for the rest of their natural lives!"
"Si! And Count Vincenzo, forever does he reign in our hearts, he would want MORE such stains on his country and his Contessa's souls? Souls that you may not believe in, but he did!"
"I believe in souls. And Susan's right that the only way life makes sense is if all this shit is for SOMEONE'S amusement. I'm just not going to give it the satisfaction after all it's done to me. That's why I call it 'All-Powerful Athiesmo.' Susan likes to call it 'The Foul and Profane Masked Thing That Controls Our Destinies' for some reason. I think it's too cute to ask."
Ortega nodded his understanding. Ramirez did the same, then looked Helen in the eye.
"Contessa," the Generalissimo said evenly. "May I have a word in private?"
Helen put out her cigarette. The last time one of them formally requested a private word with the other, she'd had a gun pointed at him that she'd commanded him to ignore while his hand was on his own. She nodded.
"Certainly, Generalissimo." Helen said, standing up. "Let's take this to my office. Seems to be a trend lately. The rest of you have your instructions; those who don't can do what you want for now. If there's anything else, take it up with Maria. Dismissed."
The two left the War Room for La Contessa's office in the Government Wing.
* * *
La Contessa preferred to work out of her study in the Palace Wing. Helen only visited her office in the Government Wing a couple of times a week; mostly to sign papers and do official things. She only went to her office in the Business Wing a couple of times a month. Unless she could get out of going to that side of the building and having to deal with La Familia.
Ramirez walked over to a low credenza, atop which, a coffee maker stood, and checked that the staff had replaced the water daily and maintained stock of the items he knew he'd need. He then turned it on. It hissed, then clear, heated water began to fill it as he reached for a cup with the crest of La Familia Royale de San Finzione and grabbed the cocoa.
"You've never made me cocoa, Hernando. Violeta always insists."
"I asked Señor Equals for Propappou's recipe a while back. In case I ever needed to do it myself."
"Something's very much on your mind, Hernando. I grew up around a soldier, Generalissimo. You're one of the handful of people who need never ask for my permission to speak freely."
"Si." He replied, scooping some into the empty cup and setting it down before moving to a chair and waiting to be given leave to sit. La Contessa gave it and did the same. "And this is what it is: What does La Contessa believe that she is doing?"
Helen was taken a bit aback by the unusual question and understood why Ramirez heated water for cocoa before beginning. She lit a cigarette before giving her answer.
"I am getting ready to scour the streets and countryside to find an Enemy of San Finzione. One who committed a direct crime against La Contessa herself; and it seems like a good moment to act!"
"Si." Ramirez responded, taking out his cigarettes and lighting one of his own. "By attacking Lady Maria while you were down, he did, indeed, do this. Even if she wasn't Contessa, it would still be a crime against the Monarchy. With consequences just as grave. But now you are upright, back in power, and bringing the full force of the law against him. This is your right as Reigning Monarch. And because you ARE Reigning Monarch; and also the woman I've worked for and alongside these last few years, I know that once we catch him, YOU plan to hold Dietz's trial HERE, don't you? In the Throne Room he left to you! You'll Hold Court and you'll hear his case yourself! For the Good of The People!" Ramirez sensed that his own voice was rising and took it back down a little. "And once there, you shall pronounce judgment based upon the decisions you have already made. Because our laws allow you to do this. Then what? Will you have him executed? Will he join Santori and Igazi where we both know you're keeping them? Or will you stab him and throw him off a building like Whyte?"
"You realize you're defending a Nazi here, right, Hernando?"
"No. I am defending my Contessa from taking a path that her husband would never lead his nation down!"
"He's killed once already! If we blame HIM for the pawns he's already sacrificed and the old man in the hospital if doesn't make it, more than once!" She replied with a drag, anger rising. "He would have killed Maria if she hadn't believed in the family curse all her life! And those two are still alive; they're just being tortured round the clock for the rest of their natural lives!"
"Si! And Count Vincenzo, forever does he reign in our hearts, he would want MORE such stains on his country and his Contessa's souls? Souls that you may not believe in, but he did!"
"I believe in souls. And Susan's right that the only way life makes sense is if all this shit is for SOMEONE'S amusement. I'm just not going to give it the satisfaction after all it's done to me. That's why I call it 'All-Powerful Athiesmo.' Susan likes to call it 'The Foul and Profane Masked Thing That Controls Our Destinies' for some reason. I think it's too cute to ask."
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