Chapter 20
The Supreme

 

July 10^th, 33 A.R.

 

“I don’t understand,” Celine said, staring back at The Supreme from across her desk.

Regardless of their business and political ties, The Supreme and Celine were childhood friends. The Supreme remained by Celine’s side since their youth and young adulthood. They never backstabbed one another, but today, Celine felt blindsided by her friend and her brother.

“Did I plant the seed in his brain that he needed to stop his bachelor lifestyle? Sure. But it takes two to tango, isn’t that the saying?” The Supreme asked, looking directly at Celine.

Celine huffed like a child. Living in the footsteps of someone like Celine’s father was challenging enough, let alone now her brother ran for office. Colin and Celine always sought out their father’s
approval, but The Supreme knew they craved his affection for different reasons. Celine was savvy and witty; she wasn’t intellectual in a technical sense, but her creativity uniquely shone through. She looked at her business success with COLI*GO as a showcase of her power. Colin gained his father’s attention differently; he used his overly confident masculinity and interest in politics to pique his
interest. While they disagreed on ideology, the idea of Colin imitating his father’s career choices showed his dedication to family tradition. The Supreme admired Colin’s intellect, remembering fondly their time together at The University. He had stealth masked by undeniable charm.

The Supreme identified this dynamic relationship between the O’Connor siblings in her younger years and spent time deciphering the ins and outs of their psyches. What surprised her most was no matter how often the siblings pushed one another’s buttons, they always protected each other. This deep-rooted loyalty was an emotion The Supreme inherently didn’t comprehend, but she acknowledged and logically respected the sentiment.

Unlike Colin or Celine, The Supreme always knew her destiny. She’d been manufactured in FACERE, the android manufacturing laboratory in The City, for this role specifically. Everything in
Emilia’s life was planned; choice simply didn’t exist for her. She didn’t mind; androids were rooted in logic and control, a nice check and balance against the wide range of emotions and inconsistencies found in human nature.

Being the most powerful android and leading all androids across The Constituency was an honor. The Supreme couldn’t fail, so she fought against segregation and disparities each day.

“I think it’s good for him. I understand you dislike her; she’s definitely a bit trite. But you can’t deny she’s loved by people across The Constituency. A sweetheart of sorts,” The Supreme answered, speaking of Dr. Isabella Garcia.

Celine’s icy sharp eyes sliced through her gaze. She couldn’t stomach the idea of her brother being involved with the Garcia family. What bothered Celine more was how he praised Isabella and then courted her. Old bloodline families were typically only allowed courtships with other old bloodline families, but Celine wished his interests were with just about anyone else. Shortly after Colin and Isabella’s relationship went public, the Garcia family publicly endorsed his bid for governor and his numbers in the polls skyrocketed.

She hated the Garcias. Celine reached out to Isabella’s father, Filipe, for an investment in COLI*GO. With their origin from The Island, they were highly respected across the networks of old bloodline families from outside The City. Their support in COLI*GO was a perfect fit.

Until it wasn’t.

Filipe dragged Celine along like a puppet with his indecisiveness. He believed in COLI*GO’s mission of unity but played Celine in the end, shaming her within social circles, making it more difficult for her to gather the support she needed to start the company. All stemmed from some old feud between him and her father.

“It’s about controlling Colin and the election. Don’t you see if he wins, how much better it would be over Don Ludewing?” The Supreme asked, running a hand down her scaly arm as if she knew without looking her colors slightly grew deeper, more vibrant.

“Control? Control Colin? Are you out of your mind? He’s wild, unpredictable . . . He thinks he can do anything without any consequences,” Celine responded, hitting her hand on The
Supreme’s desk.

“He’s not wild or unpredictable. He’s easily swayed by his emotions. I think he knows that about himself, and that’s why he tries so hard to be cold and distant.”

Celine looked at her as if they were speaking about two different people.

“Celine, my dear. You don’t know?”

“Know what?” Celine asked, looking past The Supreme to the window behind her.

The Supreme sighed and shook her head.

“I think your brother will tell you in his own time. It is not my secret to tell,” The Supreme said in a quiet tone.

The room grew silent for a few minutes while Celine gathered her thoughts. The Supreme eyed Celine’s body language, noting her friend’s deep inhales, fidgety hands, and the deep flush spreading across her skin. While The Supreme’s scales gave away her true thoughts, Celine’s complexion exposed her.

“I feel like he’s betraying the family. And he’s betraying me,” Celine said after a moment, a twinge of hurt exposing itself in her cracked tone.

The Supreme understood all human emotions, and “hurt” was one she actually experienced from time to time. She reached her hand out and grabbed Celine’s.

“I understand you feel hurt that your brother brought the Garcias back into your lives. As if he showed you and your father no respect.” The Supreme made direct eye contact with Celine.

Celine nodded after a moment.

“Don likes the status quo. Colin has better ideas. He wants equality, unity. Colin envisions a world where everyone is much better off, where success can happen for anyone. Where everyone has a chance, regardless if they are human or android. You have the same values; it’s why you started COLI*GO,” The Supreme said and let go of Celine’s hand.

“I don’t disagree with you. I’m glad you’re my friend, and I’m grateful for your support. I can’t help but feel angry about Isabella.”

“What is that saying?” The Supreme asked. “Keep your friends close but keep your enemies closer?”

Celine looked up at her and smirked. “I hadn’t thought about it that way.”

The Supreme imagined the thousands of ideas circling Celine’s mind. Plant the seeds, plant the seeds . . .

“And that’s why you have me, my dear.”

 

***

 

The commissioner’s office in the precinct was as bland as the android himself. The Supreme wasn’t particularly fond of spending time with The commissioner but it was part of their duties. Their weekly meetings were normally discreet and efficient. Normally.

Today was different.

The Supreme noticed his feet fidgeting beneath him and the lips on his thin cheeks puckering together tightly.

“What are you not telling me?” The Supreme asked him bluntly.

“I don’t like this,” he said, leaning his tablet down so that The Supreme could see it. “Dr. Anna Garcia has noticed some . . . patterns.”

“Patterns?”

“A homicide was called in last night. We were able to keep the media off it. But I don’t imagine how we’ll keep them away for too long given the circumstances.”

She looked at him, waiting. “I don’t have all day, Commissioner.”

“I know,” he said, taking a deep breath, “but the young woman who was murdered, her profile fits the same as the serial killer from a few years ago. She’s a legislative aide for a member of The Ways and Means Committee . . .” He trailed off, looking through his notes.

“Representative Atkinson?” The Supreme ventured with a guess.

Representative Atkinson supported Don Ludewing and was an outspoken Humanizer. His current obsession was shifting budgets away from android assistance programs. Colin O’Connor
despised him.

“Yes,” the commissioner said. “But that’s not all. She was stabbed twenty-three times, as outlined by Dr. Garcia. She’s making a huge fuss about it because we ‘didn’t do enough last time’
according to her.”

The Supreme grabbed the commissioner’s tablet from his hands and scrolled through the report. The images showcased the gruesome body behind a dumpster in The Bay. The forensics came up fairly empty—no trace of the killer left behind. The Supreme continued glancing through Dr. Garcia’s autopsy report. She didn’t know Dr. Anna Garcia well, other than that she was good at her job and fresh out of medical school. This new, young Chief Medical Examiner asked too many questions for The Supreme’s liking.

The autopsy notes outlined twenty-three stab wounds and strangulation marks on the woman’s neck. Dr. Garcia even linked the report with cold cases from her predecessor, stating either a copycat killer emerged or the “uncaught serial killer is back.” The words “serial killer” were underlined several times.

“This is a disastrous media frenzy,” The Supreme said, throwing the tablet back on the desk.

“Doesn’t The City deserve to know about the potential of an uncaught serial killer?” the commissioner asked her.

The Supreme thought for a moment too long, and the commissioner viciously slammed his hand down on the desk. His scaled pulsated deeper blue hues around his body.

“Madam Supreme!” His voice bellowed forcefully around the room.

“Look,” she said, “I see your side, but this will cause mass hysteria and this is an important election cycle. We can’t afford any distractions and unease.”

“Then what are we going to do? The girl’s family needs to be notified.”

“She doesn’t have any family here. Her family lives out in The Countryside,” The Supreme answered.

“How do you know that?” The commissioner’s eyes locked in with The Supreme’s, analyzing her. She drew her face down and matched his gaze.

“I knew her, Commissioner. I work with The Ways and Means Committee nearly every day,” The Supreme replied.

“So, what are you suggesting I do here?”

“Bury it.”

“But what about Dr. Garcia?”

“Tell her the truth. There is no next of kin. There’s nothing in the forensics report. Unless new evidence emerges or someone comes forward with information, there’s simply nothing we can do.” The Supreme reached over and grabbed the tablet one more time off his desk. “And tell her to change her goddamn autopsy report. We don’t need any extremists in The City getting unhinged. Do I need to remind you of The Resurgence? How The Resurgence started over the brutal killings of a few androids? Imagine if humans, particularly the Humanizers, ignited that now for humans?”

The commissioner looked up at her, the hollow appearance of his face intensified in pure defeat.

 

***

 

The sound of the violin echoed in The Supreme’s ears. She looked out toward the O’Connor box, noting Colin and Isabella together. The two weren’t paying attention to the orchestra onstage. Instead, they appeared to be in a very deep, consuming conversation with one another. The Supreme felt a smile spread across her face as a sudden silence pierced the room for a brief pause before the crowd erupted in applause. Now was her time to visit the hopeful soon-to-be governor and his date. The android attendant smiled at her as she approached.

The mahogany door of the O’Connor box opened, and Colin greeted her. He looked surprised by The Supreme’s presence and her moment of intrusion on his night out.

“Madam Supreme, to what do I owe this pleasure?” he asked in his crisp but deep voice.

The Supreme watched him intently as he exited the box. Colin was a very tall man. The Supreme herself stood almost six feet tall, but looking up at him, she couldn’t help but experience a
slight nervousness.

“Are you not going to invite me in?” The Supreme asked coyly.

Colin raised his eyebrows at her and opened the door behind him. Isabella looked up from her seat and smiled at them. She was a charming woman, modern but still feminine. Her hair was pulled back tightly in a long sleek ponytail, and her dark caramel skin glowed against the twinkling chandeliers.

“Good evening, Dr. Garcia.”

“Please, call me Isabella,” she replied, getting up from her seat and embracing The Supreme in an informal hug. In Isabella’s embrace, The Supreme noticed Colin’s dark stare.

“I couldn’t help but notice the two of you from my box across the way. I wanted to say hello during the intermission.”

The Supreme suddenly felt the emotion of “agitation” coursing through her. She thrived on control but felt a difference in Colin’s presence from the last time they were together.

“Colin and I were actually discussing his campaign schedule over the next few weeks, and I always appreciate a distraction from logistics. What is the point of a nice evening out if politics and
business ruin it?” Isabella asked.

The Supreme nodded. While Dr. Garcia was charming, she was still tirelessly chatty.

“We certainly shouldn’t discuss politics now, darling; it would put Madam Supreme in an uncomfortable position,” Colin said as his hand lingered on the small of Isabella’s back.

“Darling?” The Supreme said aloud before she realized the words escaped her.

Isabella blushed in response.

“Well,” The Supreme said, giving the two an awkward glance. “I don’t want to interrupt your evening together. But I did want to say hello and congratulations on the latest poll numbers. They look very promising.”

“Thank you,” Colin said as he opened the door to escort her out.

Surprisingly, Colin followed The Supreme out of the box and closed the door before firmly grabbing her arm. The foreign feeling of human skin against her scales made her shiver.

“I appreciate all you do to help COLI*GO and my gubernatorial campaign,” Colin said in a low voice, his eyes darting around the narrow hallway to make sure they were alone. “But please don’t put a wedge between me and my sister again. Or you will regret that decision.”

He let go of her arm forcibly and opened the door to the box quickly before disappearing behind it.

Maybe Celine was correct, she thought. Colin O’Connor wasn’t as easy to control as she assumed. But The Supreme was tired of playing the mental chess game in The Capitol Building alone.
She appreciated the challenge.