Chapter 14
Colin

 

January 28^th, 33 A.R.

 

“Can’t you write it, Colin?” Celine asked, looking up at him from across the dining room table.

Colin smelled the cigar his father smoked earlier, the pungent smell creeping into the walls of the townhouse. Celine looked exhausted and anxious, her skin paler than normal and dark bags forming under her eyes. She worked long hours lately, preparing various business plans while simultaneously examining new and innovative technologies.

He wanted to be a more supportive brother, a caring son, and overall, a better person. But he felt no purpose lately, as if each day came in and out like mundane waves.

I wish Celine could take care of our father, he selfishly thought.

Their father despised Colin. While there were moments in his childhood where his father didn’t treat him like an outcast, Colin often felt he came up short. Even as a young man in his late
twenties, Colin hadn’t grown out of these uncomfortable characteristics his father instilled in him.

Colin believed his father resented him for the death of his wife. The family forcibly stuck together that fitful day about twenty years ago, a dark stain seeping into the fabric of their family. When Colin and Celine left for The University, they never thought they’d be back in the townhouse, living with their father. But then he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, and his condition worsened each year.

After being elected to The Ways and Means Committee six years ago, Colin helped hide his father’s inflictions from the public and The Legislature. His experience on The Committee provided a vast knowledge of the ins and outs of The Capitol Building. He knew each representative like the back of his hand, making hiding his father’s condition a fairly easy task.

Colin looked across the table at Celine and scowled. Her defeated look made him feel even more like a complete failure. His gaze drifted from her toward his father at the other end of the table.

Henry O’Connor wasn’t listening to their conversation, looking down at his plate with a hollow look in his eyes. He was present in the room, but Colin knew better; his father didn’t fully remember most of his days anymore. Shame spread through Colin’s mind.

I should have helped sooner.

“Send it over,” Colin said, looking back at his sister. She smiled brightly, and relief flooded her body as she relaxed into her seat. One less thing for her to worry about.

“Kathleen will send it over,” Celine answered. “Do you think Don Ludewing will be a competent governor after father? I mean, I’m sure he will win easily if we support his campaign. If father
endorses him . . .”

Colin sighed. There was always a secret agenda with Celine.

“What’s your concern?” Colin asked but already suspected the answer: The Supreme.

The Supreme was a piece of work, but they were all friends. The three attended The University and before that summered together at The Oceanside. Back then, The Supreme went by her given name: Emilia. Emilia always knew she’d rise to the position of supreme, and due to her status, her predecessor insisted she spend the vast majority of her younger years with the O’Connor family.

Once they graduated, Emilia worked with the former supreme in preparation, taking on the official role four years later. She was highly praised by her android constituents, seen as brazen and
honest. Don Ludewing didn’t stand a chance against The Supreme on The Legislature floor. She’d dominate him.

“He’s just so . . .” Celine started.

“Soft. Cowardly. A pushover,” their father interrupted.

Colin and Celine glanced over at him, eyebrows raised.

“Father, he’s the only option,” Celine responded, stretching her hand and placing it on his shoulder soothingly.

Colin watched his father breathe in deeply before shaking Celine off. No one dared speak after the outburst, and after several painful minutes of silence, Henry stood and excused himself. When he left, the air in the room settled.

“Colin,” Celine said, leaning over toward him, “you should run.”

“Father wouldn’t approve,” Colin responded with a sigh. “And I’m not qualified.”

“What makes you think you so?” Celine asked.

Because we disagree on so much, Colin wanted to answer.

Henry O’Connor had been elected right at the end of The Resurgence. The previous governor was thrown in jail, and Henry was tasked with bridging the gap between people and androids.
Uncharted territory. His ideology lingered on equality for androids but not completely. He believed they deserved representation but held humans as superior beings. During this time, people still feared androids after they rose up. From there, the Humanizer party emerged. Colin had a different viewpoint. He believed humans and androids could prosper together, equally. He supported the
Sympathizer movement and collaborated with all beings across The Constituency.

Leaning back in his seat, Colin pushed his plate back. Neither sibling touched the rest of their meal.

“The only reason he lets me even respond and approve legislation is because he doesn’t want the public to know he’s sick. That he can’t do it himself. He wants to finish out his term without stepping down. Otherwise, he hates my ideology.”

Their political differences were another point of contention between him and his father: Colin wouldn’t give up on his beliefs, even to protect his father.

Why not utilize their processor power? Help create cures for diseases, solve financial crises? Colin once asked.

His father simply laughed. Androids were not the enemy; they helped society. Colin grew angry when his father insisted on segregating androids and humans in The City.

Celine agreed with Colin’s beliefs and even went behind their father’s back to include The Supreme on The Board of COLI*GO. Henry eventually forgave her; he could never say no to his dutiful and perfect daughter. His lousy son, on the other hand . . .

“That’s not true, Colin. He appreciates your perspective. You don’t understand the turmoil and pain occurring in his mind,” Celine interrupted his thoughts.

“Stop sugarcoating this. His attitude toward me has been the same my whole life, even before he was sick. You, on the other hand, can’t do anything wrong. If anyone should run for governor, it should be you,” Colin said with a laugh.

“I’m too busy building COLI*GO. I’m focusing all my energy there. COLI*GO is too important,” Celine said, frustration creeping into her tone.

“More important than our family legacy?” Colin asked.

Celine rolled her eyes before glaring at him.

“Diving into politics might do you some good. Give you a break from the toxic corporate environment.”

She chuckled, the shrillness uncharacteristic of his prim and proper sister.

“Politics isn’t any less toxic than the corporate world.”

“Look,” Colin said, his eyes directly staring her down. “You’re my sister and I respect you. But you need to get out of your business partner’s pants. He’s using you. And he has a wife.”

Celine’s eyes darkened like stormy summer thunderstorm clouds. She and Martin Borges were engaged in an illicit affair, but he was a Borges, a member of another old bloodline family. His wife was a “nobody.” And Celine needed him; he was instrumental in the technical sciences. As a researcher and scientist, he provided invaluable insight into building the biotech company.

A huff came out of her throat. Celine despised her brother sometimes. He was the smart one, the one who excelled in school. He skipped a grade and joined her the same year at The University. And while her father did adore her, he always reminded her of Colin’s intellect. Martin was different. For once, there was a man in her life who made her feel like a genius.

“If you could show some restraint, you could be an even better fucking politician than our father. But you can’t help yourself, can you? You think you know better than everyone.” Celine leaned across the table as the words exploded out of her. The table shook in her grip as she looked at Colin. She stormed out of the dining room, her footsteps ascending the stairwell.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

Colin’s eyes glanced back at the meal on his plate. Barely touched. He pushed the plate aside and pulled out his device. The legislation his father was supposed to review was already in his
inbox. He took the liberty of removing and adding new sentences, smiling smugly. Celine would read this, and he found pleasure in making her feel incompetent in the realm of law and government. He switched over from the document and scrolled through his contacts until he reached Kathleen.

Kathleen Murphy was very intertwined in his life. The Murphys were family friends to the O’Connors for decades. Kathleen’s mother was originally Henry’s legislative aide, and Kathleen worked for him after graduating from The University. Henry even footed the bill for her tuition. Growing up, Colin and Kathleen were great friends, almost inseparable. There were never any romantic feelings between the two—only genuine friendship.

“Hey,” Kathleen said, her face appearing on the screen.

“I want to do something out of character, and I need your help,” Colin said, glancing back at the empty dining room entryway.

“Okay,” Kathleen said, turning her head slightly to the side.

“I want to run against Don Ludewing.”

“Wait,” Kathleen said, confusion furrowing her brow. “For governor?”

“Yes,” Colin answered slowly. “I’ve been practically doing the job for the last year and a half anyways.”

Kathleen pondered the idea for a moment before nodding.

“Don’s an idiot. He’ll only carry out my father’s terrible legacy. I want to make The Constituency better. Get us out of these dark ages.”

Kathleen’s eyes widened as a warm smile spread across her face. Running for governor wouldn’t be easy; Colin’s platform was completely different from his father’s, and he didn’t expect any kind of endorsement from him.

“Well, you’re like a brother to me. I’d do anythin’ for yah, so what do yah need from me?”

“Will you be my campaign manager?” Colin asked her.

“Me? I’m not qualified.” Kathleen’s eyes grew at his request.

“You’re the perfect person for the job and the only one I trust.” Colin smiled and Kathleen returned the favor.

“Okay, well,” she said, “let’s do this. When do yah wanna make the announcement?”

“Exactly one hour after my father publicly endorses Don.” A mischievous grin spread across Colin’s face. He was tired of being a disappointment.

Let this be a lesson for them.

“I’ll draft somethin’ for the media. Let’s schedule yah time tah discuss your stance on the issues. You’ll need tah visit all the districts.” Colin almost heard the gears in her mind turning, running a million miles a minute.

“Yes, let’s do that. And I need to schedule time with The Supreme. Alone. Before we make the announcement.”

“Of course.” They said goodbye, and Colin ended their video chat.

He sighed, looking at the steak on the plate once more. He ate the cold slab of meat and smiled.

 

***

 

“Hello, Amanda,” Colin said to the beautiful young blonde woman behind the desk. Amanda MacDonald was his sister’s chief of staff. Celine was quite fond of her and now Colin realized why. No matter how much Celine praised Amanda’s intelligence, he knew his sister’s ulterior motives in the manners of attraction.

“Hello, Mr. O’Connor. What can I help you with today?” her gentle voice asked.

“I need thirty minutes on The Supreme’s schedule today. It’s important,” Colin answered with a generous smile.

“Well, Mr. O’Connor, I don’t think that’s possible.”

“What do I need to do to receive higher priority?” Colin asked, moving away from the front of Amanda’s desk to lean against the side. She smirked coyly at him.

“I’d like to say lunch might help your case, but dinner definitely will.”

She’s good.

“Next Friday?” he asked, leaning closer to her.

“Wow, look at that. I can get you in, in an hour.”

Colin beamed his charming grin. He didn’t hate the idea. Amanda was brilliant and beautiful, her freckles sprinkled innocently across the bridge of her nose. Colin had a certain charisma with women like Amanda; he didn’t mind using his charm. The only good thing he’d inherited from his father.

He and Kathleen headed back down to the lobby, and she rolled her eyes at him once they were in the elevator. They took a seat next to the large atrium to wait out the hour. They drafted announcements and schedules.

“I can tell yah lookin’ at me funny,” Kathleen said without glancing up from her device.

“I’m curious what Emilia will say. I’m not sure she’ll like the idea.”

“Well,” Kathleen said, looking up from her device. “Get that shit outta yah head. If yah get elected, there are gonna be a lotta people who don’t like what yah have tah say.”

After an hour passed, Colin headed back up to the 101^st floor of the building. The Supreme welcomed him into her office with an alluring grin.

“To what do I owe this surprise, old friend?” The Supreme asked as they settled into the sitting area.

Colin noted the interesting design choice for the room; harsh and rigid lines bounced off the intimate meeting space. He assumed the color tones would be warmer, playing against the beautiful
skyline of The City behind them, but everything was painted gray.

“I’m running for governor.”

“Really?” she asked with no inclination of approval or disapproval in her tone.

“Yes. I plan on announcing my intentions this afternoon. And I wanted you to know beforehand.”

“Have you told your father?” The question hung in the air with an awkwardness Colin hadn’t anticipated.

“No.”

“Interesting.” The Supreme leaned back in her seat.

Colin wanted shock value. Don thought he was running unopposed. “I’ll tell him after the announcement.”

The Supreme squinted her eyes inquisitively at Colin as if sizing him up. When they were younger, he and Emilia pretended they were leaders, discussed topics of ethics, and enjoyed card and chess games. They shared a craving for competitive, intellectual banter. He’d yet to break her poker face and thrived on the challenge.

“That will cause a lot of issues.”

“And where would the fun be if it didn’t?” Colin asked with a smile.