Chapter 17
Colin

 

June 29^th, 33 A.R.

 

Excitement suspended deep within the humidity as Colin stepped off the small platform. Campaigning challenged him; being the underdog provided a new perspective. Colin thrived off this energy, working four times as hard as his opponent, proving his worth to the voters. He needed their trust.

Don Ludewing was boring by comparison. He lived a simple, transparent life as the patriarch of his old bloodline family. Colin was a calculated risk, a thrill of excitement and unknown. News
reporters coined him as “new blood from old blood.”

Kathleen secured speaking engagements for Colin within as many places as possible. He campaigned across The Constituency, but The City remained the most important district.

“Colin!” she yelled to him. “The Supreme requested a meetn’.”

Colin stopped dead in his tracks. His relationship with The Supreme remained aloof during the election. “Let’s make it happen,” he responded with a grin. Kathleen nodded slightly,
stepping aside.

“Excuse me, Mr. O’Connor?”

A man approached him from the crowd. His hair was dark and wiry, matching his elegant skin tone, but Colin noted the fine lines spreading across his face, aging an otherwise youthful stature.

“Can I ask you a question?” the man spoke sheepishly. Colin extended his hand to shake the man’s.

“Of course,” Colin said, noticing the crowd forming around them. “What is your name, sir?”

“Mick,” the man answered, his eyes darting quickly back and forth. “My family’s lived here for generations, but some months, it’s difficult putting food on the table.”

He looked ashamed, his eyes dropping to his feet.

“Food shortage is a serious issue. Families shouldn’t feel insecure, and providing assistance to farms to lower costs is the first step,” Colin responded. He was glad the man asked about his policies on this particular issue. Don didn’t have a plan for food sustainability, but Colin devoted a large portion of his platform to this issue.

“I’d work to pass legislation providing new technology to farms at no additional cost if they sell back their old equipment. This is a bipartisan issue between people and androids. No one should go hungry, and it’s my number one priority to make sure no one does.”

A woman emerged from the crowd, approaching him. The sight of her took Colin’s breath away. He recognized her instantly.

“I want to formally introduce myself,” she said in an intoxicating tone. “I’m Dr. Isabella Garcia.”

Colin’s gaze didn’t move from her eyes even though they wanted to linger down her frame. He shook her hand. “Colin O’Connor.”

The O’Connors and the Garcias had a tumultuous history, one Colin was too familiar with.

“I know,” she responded simply. “We should discuss your plan to feed hungry citizens of The Constituency. You’re on the right track, but there’s room for improvement. If you want to develop an actionable plan, you’ll listen to what I have to say.”

Isabella’s confidence surprised Colin, but he admired her for her brazenness. Colin recognized the stunningly beautiful woman possessed a deep knowledge and intellect, an asset if he could persuade her.

“Well, Doctor,” Colin said with a wide grin, “I’m all ears.”

“Have your people contact my people to set up a time later this week,” she said, returning a graceful smile.

Colin watched her walk away, disappearing into the crowd. He turned back toward the man who asked him the question, but he was nowhere in sight.

 

***

 

The Supreme welcomed Colin into her office a little too casually this time. Skeptically, he sat across from her desk.

“I have to say, I’m actually quite impressed with your campaign.”

Colin opened his mouth to respond but thought better of it. He and his campaign staff worked long hours, barely committing to normal schedules, let alone personal lives. Colin assumed The
Supreme and The Representatives of The Androids favored him over his opponent, but androids didn’t vote in the election. Their influence could hinder him; depending on the political analyst, his margins were already razor thin. Winning wasn’t good enough for Colin; he wanted to crush Don Ludewing.

“You know I can’t take sides,” The Supreme said, her words stinging Colin. He knew better than to let his emotions show with The Supreme.

“Well,” he said, straightening up in his seat. “I’m a good candidate. I have great ideas for my people, and I have an amazing, dedicated team.”

“True, but you’re still lacking support from your father’s base voters.”

“Why do you care about them?” he asked. “They don’t want you or androids to have any say in society.”

“Well,” The Supreme replied, twisting a lock of hair around her finger, “you still need them to win.”

He couldn’t argue with her, no matter how much he despised Humanizers and those leaning toward the Humanizer party.

“I’d recommend you stop with the bachelor lifestyle. That might help.”

“I wouldn’t call myself a playboy by any means, Madam Supreme,” Colin said, laughing. Deep down, Colin admitted some truth in her accusation. In the years after The University, Colin gained a bit of a reputation. He was a good-looking man and a charming one at that.

The Supreme chuckled deeply, her head tilting back as she let go of the lock of hair in her hand. Her scales pulsated from an amber to a shade of soft gold. Colin hadn’t witnessed her scales change color since their youth, and his body softened at the familiarity they shared. While they hadn’t remained close over the last few years, they grew up together and knew one another well.

“Find someone to settle in with during this campaign. It’ll stop the rumors of your wild ways,” she said with a devilish smile.

“My schedule is incredibly insane. How am I supposed to do that?” Colin admitted, a sigh exiting his chest. “I have committee meetings, advisory calls, and I need to find some time this week for Dr. Isabella Garcia.”

“You should find time for Isabella; her insight into the food crisis is valuable. She’s also beloved by everyone. Who wouldn’t admire a selfless woman who gave up her career as a surgeon to help the less fortunate?” The Supreme nodded, a grin spreading across her scaly face. “And it helps that she’s both single and easy on the eyes, too.”