Jeremy found the rigors of being a senator even more challenging than being a congressman. Frequently, he worked past eleven o’clock at night, and then he would have to be back at the office by seven o’clock the next morning. He considered getting a foldaway bed to put in his office, but Alicia forbade it. Whenever he was in Lamoni, he had to come home every night.
One of his first meetings was with Matthew Wellander, Iowa’s senior senator. Jeremy had dealt with Senator Wellander during his four years in the House. Now he figured they would be working closer together. They talked about many issues, but mostly about the Virginia situation. They agreed that the only way to liberate the Virginias was with military takeover. While President Mesta’s sabotage efforts were weakening Virginia, General Krakowski would still hold power until forced out.
Before their talk ended, Senator Wellander handed Jeremy a $100,000 bill that had been printed shortly before the dissolution. Jeremy knew that post-dissolution currency was much more artistic and colorful than this drab piece of currency. But he also had never seen a bill with such a large denomination.
“Back when this bill was printed,” Senator Wellander explained, “it would not even buy a loaf of bread. This is the kind of thing that must never happen again.” Jeremy knew how worthless American money became before the dissolution. This was his first tangible evidence.
Jeremy always attended whenever the Senate was in session. Vice President Cassidy praised Jeremy for his diligence. Jeremy also voted astutely, carefully trying to do what was best for the United States and Iowa. He spoke only when he had something to say. He always kept it short.
One time Jeremy got annoyed with a senator who got long-winded with his speaking. Another senator called for cloture. Jeremy voted to invoke cloture. The measure passed with fifty-four votes. Afterward, Senator Wellander explained to Jeremy that before the dissolution, it required a 60 percent majority to invoke cloture. Now it only needed a simple majority.
Jeremy also got to talk with President Mesta one-on-one. They talked about many issues, but mostly about the Virginia problem. Jeremy asked the president why he did not invade Virginia. The president replied that he wanted to liberate Virginia with as few casualties as possible. After all, the bulk of the people in both Virginia and West Virginia were law-abiding American citizens. He would continue to try to bring Krakowski down by sabotaging the infrastructure in both states.
Politely disagreeing, Jeremy claimed that people in the Virginias were dying under General Krakowski’s rule anyway. The sooner the people there could be liberated, the better. President Mesta politely thanked Jeremy for the input, saying he would take it under advisement.
Jeremy continued to watch the situation in Virginia carefully. The sabotage against them continued. A bridge here, a railroad track there. Sometimes the US would bomb a train depot or a military supply base. No major damage, but no progress either.
Virginia would strike back. Some bridges and railroad tracks would be sabotaged in nearby states. Sometimes Virginia would hurl a missile at the surrounding area. Each missile would get intercepted. Each missile would either be harmless or not capable of doing much damage. But every national leader agreed that the US had to keep intercepting those missiles. There was always the risk that if General Krakowski thought the US was growing complacent, he might fire something much more dangerous.
The college basketball tournaments gave Jeremy something to cheer about. Creighton won the women’s national title. Indiana won the men’s. Meanwhile, New Jersey won the NBA title. Vancouver won the NHL title.
During the spring, President Mesta started a new strategy against General Krakowski. Instead of bombing infrastructure, he started bombing the wall that surrounded the Virginias. Jeremy liked that idea. He believed that with those walls gone, it would be easier for people to escape. Perhaps it would also facilitate an invasion.
The wall bombing had mixed success. Wherever a portion of the wall was destroyed, Virginia troops quickly stepped in. A few citizens escaped, but at least twice as many were killed by snipers. Limited success was achieved at the portion of the wall bordering West Virginia’s Northern Panhandle. This area was lightly guarded. US troops seized the opportunity to liberate a small portion of West Virginia, which consisted of most of Wetzel County, including the communities of New Martinsvile and Paden City. Grateful citizens thanked and hugged their liberators, providing them with what little amenities they had. Now it was up to the US Army to protect this newly liberated area, while the federal government could use its resources to rebuild it.
Efforts to advance US troops into other parts of Krakowski’s conquests had little success. Danville, Virginia was one objective, but Virginia troops successfully protected the city. Another foray, trying to liberate Morgantown, West Virginia, likewise failed. Clearly, Kyle Kirtley’s method of moving troops to wherever they were needed was working, despite the sabotage committed by the US.
Deciding that air travel must have been a key part of Kyle Kirtley’s strategy, the US started bombing airfields. This effort mainly targeted military airports. But the runways at major airports such as in Richmond and Northern Virginia were also sabotaged.
General Krakowski retaliated by striking US airfields. While over half of the bombers he sent were shot down or intercepted, the mad general still managed to inflict significant damage on major airports serving Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Raleigh.
The citizens of the newly liberated parts of West Virginia talked about their former living conditions. They agreed that while the food was generally adequate, other necessities were scarce. Appliances, if they broke down, could seldom be repaired or replaced. Oil-based products were hard to come by. Electricity worked most of the time, but it would often go out for at least a few hours each week.
Despite his setbacks, General Krakowski held firm. He started replacing the damaged parts of his wall with electric barbed wire. It was quickly realized that a person touching these wires could easily be electrocuted. The mad tyrant did not care how many people were killed or damaged to maintain power.
Months passed with negligible progress. Jeremy still wanted a full-scale invasion of Virginia. Many senators agreed. So did Governor Lofton. With forty-eight states going up against two, the forty-eight states would certainly win. Politicians who sided with President Mesta’s caution pointed out the danger that General Krakowski could have weapons of mass destruction. Jeremy believed that if General Krakowski had weapons like those, he would have used them by now. The general needed to be deposed before he could get some.
Alicia cheered when Des Moines, Lincoln high school won the state baseball championship. Jeremy admitted that he was happy too. Even though his attendance there was brief, he still felt ties with the school. Later in the summer, San Diego State won the College World Series.
Soon afterward, President Mesta informed Jeremy that Secret Service agents were being assigned to protect him. The president told Jeremy that Virginia authorities knew he had become a senator. Now those Virginia authorities were plotting to kill Jeremy. He needed protection.
Knowing that people wanted to kill him was very unnerving to Jeremy. Alicia noticed the men in black clothes who had followed him home. She immediately asked Jeremy about it. Jeremy, knowing he could not withhold something so critical from his wife, told her the reason. At that point, Alicia became more unnerved than Jeremy.
Wendy and Vincent noticed those agents very quickly. Jeremy needed to inform them of the situation. Both were as badly unnerved as their mother was. Jeremy did the best he could to assure them that he would be OK. These Secret Service agents were highly trained for their jobs. But even Jeremy did not feel totally at ease.
Within days, Brenda and Julie both found out about their father’s situation. Both had serious concerns. Brenda even suggested that Jeremy resign from his job. But Jeremy refused, claiming it was his duty to the people of Iowa and the nation to serve his full term. When Julie came home for summer break, she felt like she was being watched too much.
When fall classes started, Jeremy drove Julie back up to the campus. Alicia, Wendy, and Vincent accompanied them. Secret Service agents tailed him the entire way. When they reached an interchange in West Des Moines, one of those high-speed cable hookups was available. Wanting to try out this new device, Jeremy connected his car to a cable. He was provided a keypad to punch in the exit he wanted. Once he indicated the Grinnell exit, the cable whisked him off at a much higher speed than any of the car’s occupants had experienced in a car before.
The Secret Service agents followed right behind. The cable sped both vehicles to the Grinnell exit. When they exited, Jeremy noted they had gone sixty miles in just thirty-five minutes. That was an average of 103 miles per hour. To think it was all done so quickly and efficiently. His car did not even use one drop of gas.
The Secret Service vehicle also exited at Grinnell, following close behind. Jeremy wondered how they could have known which exit he was going to use. Maybe they knew he was taking Julie back to college.
The pair of cars continued to the Grinnell College campus, one right after the other. While the family was unloading, both agents watched closely. Whenever Jeremy went inside the dorm, the agents also went in, taking no chances with Jeremy’s safety. After Julie’s belongings were in her dorm room, the other Voorhies drove back to Lamoni, with the Secret Service agents following right behind.
Jeremy still followed Major League Baseball as best he could. He was pleased when Baltimore won the American League East. He was likewise disappointed when Baltimore lost to Detroit in the opening round of the playoffs. When Seattle beat out Detroit for the American League pennant, he felt some vindication.
The World Series was a West Coast matchup between Seattle and San Diego. San Diego won the opening game of the series, but then Seattle came back to win the next four. Jeremy was glad to see somebody new win it.
Jeremy really started enjoying the football season when Creighton won its first six games in a row. His alma mater was ranked ninth in the nation. There was talk of a playoff berth. But that hope was dashed by a 59–6 loss to Tulsa in their seventh game. Tulsa reached the playoffs but got smacked by Idaho in the opening round. Idaho, in turn, lost to San Jose State in the second round. Then Drake defeated San Jose State in the semifinals.
The national championship game featured a big rematch between Drake and Maryland, the two schools that had faced each other in the first post-dissolution championship. The first half seemed remarkably like the prior matchup, with Maryland leading 14–10 at halftime. But two third-quarter touchdowns and an early fourth-quarter field goal put Drake on top. A late field goal by Maryland put the final score at 27–17. Drake had won its second national football title.
The nation’s attention then shifted to the NFL. Interest heightened as Toronto erected the best win-loss record in the league. When Toronto defeated Dallas in the NFC Championship the Sunday before Thanksgiving, speculation abounded about the possibility of a Canadian team winning the Super Bowl.
Jeremy and his family went up to Des Moines to have Thanksgiving with Alicia’s family. The Shelbys were not used to having so many strangers guarding their house. Several people tried to shake hands with Jeremy or get his autograph. The Secret Services agents kept them all away.
Jeremy enjoyed the Thanksgiving dinner. Even with all their daughters, with their husbands, and all their grandchildren, there was more than enough food. Mr. and Mrs. Shelby put on a fine dinner. Many of their guests helped. Their house was crowded but happy. Jeremy wondered if he would ever get to enjoy such a dinner with his parents and siblings.
While the relatives continued socializing, Jeremy had work to do. He hooked up his personal computer in Alicia’s bedroom. There were so many issues that needed attention. Foreign policy. The economy. The national budget. Health care. The poor. Of course, there was the omnipresent Virginia issue.
As always, Virginia weighed heavily on his mind. It had been twenty-eight years since his escape. He had lived more than half his life in the freedom of the United States. Maybe that was what the country was being called. But in Jeremy’s mind, the country was not united until all fifty states were together. Virginia was still home. His loved ones and friends had lived those twenty-eight years believing he was dead. By now, they were all resigned to never seeing him again.
Outside the room, Jeremy overheard Mrs. Shelby asking Alicia how she liked being married to a senator. Alicia admitted that it had its challenges, considering that Jeremy was spending much less time with the family. But she was pleased with Jeremy’s success and glad he was working so hard to help improve the lives of so many people.
Except for eating and sleeping, Jeremy spent most of his visit working. He did take time out to watch the Super Bowl on Sunday. The outcome was never much in doubt. Toronto looked like a well-oiled machine, able to pick apart Oakland’s offense, while the Toronto quarterback seemed able to drop long passes into the arms of his receivers with pinpoint accuracy. Toronto led 35–0 at halftime.
The Toronto coach started using his best talent more sparingly in the second half. With a safe lead, he wanted to minimize the injury risk. But even then, Oakland could not catch up. Toronto won the game 49–10.
Soon after the game, the guests packed up to leave. After arriving back home, Jeremy got out his computer and did more work. It was past midnight before he stopped.
For Christmas, Jeremy and Alicia invited the relatives to their home in Lamoni. As the guests arrived, Jeremy had to assure the Secret Service agents that the guests had been invited before they could be let into the house. Every person who attended the Thanksgiving dinner also attended the Christmas dinner. With Jeremy and Alicia’s larger house, they could better accommodate so many people.
The Christmas dinner was a huge success. Everybody enjoyed themselves. Jeremy decided that he should enjoy a day off on Christmas. He spent most of the day socializing with Alicia’s relatives. To him, they were like the family he could not have.
Some people certainly were not taking the day off. Jeremy had never seen so many Secret Service agents surrounding his house. He felt like he was in a heavily guarded castle.
As the year drew to its close, speculation started about who the next president would be. Speculation grew when Vice President Cassidy announced that he would not seek the job.
The Union Party started scrambling for a candidate they could support. The Constitution Party had won the last three presidential elections. They wanted to win this one. With the support of their party, a candidate they would endorse would have a better chance to win. Leaders of the Constitution Party began considering who they should endorse.
In the middle of January, Jeremy received a message from President Mesta. He wanted to meet with Jeremy. Unsure what the president wanted, Jeremy stopped his work and walked down to the basement of his office building. From there, he took the short underground transit to the basement of the capitol.
Upon arrival at the basement of the capitol, Jeremy descended one level. There, he used his pass as a senator to enter a secret transit. This transit connected only the capitol, the White House, and the Supreme Court building. Only members of Congress, members of the Supreme Court, the president, the vice president, and cabinet members could use this transit. Secret Service agents could also transit with whomever they were protecting.
Right after Jeremy exited underneath the White House, he was frisked by two other Secret Service agents. Even though they knew who Jeremy was and that he was coming, no risks could be taken with the president’s safety. After the frisking, Jeremy was promptly escorted to the president’s Oval Office.
President Mesta shook hands with Jeremy and invited him inside. He had Jeremy sit down in a chair directly across the desk from his own chair. “I was wondering,” he began, “if you would like to consider running for president this fall.”
Jeremy sat silently for a moment. Thoughts raced through his head. Finally, he came up with the words, “I’m not sure. This is something I need to think about.”
“I did not expect you to say one way or the other right away. This nothing to take lightly. You need to give it thorough thought,” replied President Mesta. “Deciding to run for president or not is a difficult decision. Take all the time you need. I will stand by your decision.”
The president continued, “This is the toughest job you could ever have. But it is also the most rewarding. You can help millions of people. But it is not for everybody. I have asked you this because I have confidence in you.”
Jeremy did not work late that night, like usual. He needed to talk with Alicia. Alicia was both pleasantly surprised and a little concerned to see her husband come home so early. At least he would be home for dinner, something that did not happen often. As Alicia suspected, Jeremy wanted to have a private conference with her.
After the supper dishes were cleaned and put away, Jeremy and Alicia asked Wendy and Vincent to leave. They sat down in the living room to talk.
“I had a talk with President Mesta today,” Jeremy began. “He asked if I would like to run for president this fall.”
Alicia reacted with predictable surprise and concern. She voiced her concern first. “Jeremy,” she asked, “do you think it would be safe? General Krakowski wants to kill you now that you are a senator. Don’t you think he will try even harder if you become president?”
“I have certainly been thinking about that,” replied Jeremy. “First, I must assure you that you can nix this whole idea if you want. I will only run for president if you are agreeable to it.”
Alicia, feeling better with Jeremy’s promise, sighed. “It is something to carefully consider,” she said. “I know how much you want to liberate Virginia. You have so many friends and family there.”
“More importantly, the people of Virginia and West Virginia need to be freed from General Krakowski’s tyranny.” Remembering David Grove’s wise words, Jeremy continued, “We must remember that Virginia and West Virginia are not bad states. The people there are good people. They just have bad leadership.”
“There are some good reasons for running for president,” Alicia admitted. “It just seems so overwhelming.”
“I agree,” said Jeremy. “This is not a decision to rush into. We can both think this over until we decide. But I will only run for president if we both agree that I should do it. We both have our reservations. We must both carefully think this one through.”
Jeremy and Alicia spent the rest of the evening enjoying each other’s company. Eventually, Wendy walked into the living room and joined them. She knew they had ended their private talk. When Jeremy asked what Vincent was doing, Wendy replied that he was in his room, talking with his girlfriend on his phone. Jeremy, unaware that Vincent had a girlfriend, asked, “Who is this lucky girl?”
“Her name is Kaitlyn Glass,” Wendy responded. “I think he met her in one of his classes.”
Jeremy was glad that Vincent had a girlfriend. He knew that Wendy had done some dating but had not been serious with any boys yet. He figured Vincent was not ready to get serious with a girl, but having such a companion would be good for him.
While news about Vincent’s girlfriend sounded exciting, Brenda had even bigger news. She had been seeing a minister named Noah Sorenson for some time. They had decided to get married. The scheduled date was late in the summer.
While Jeremy mulled over his decision, people were assessing President Mesta’s performance. The consensus was that his best performance was in foreign policy. Some people believed he had focused on Mexico too much, believing it was motivated by his roots there. Others countered that the United States would benefit in the long run from a more prosperous, stable neighbor. Maintaining close ties with Mexico would also help. Meanwhile, the president had continued a spirit of cooperation with China and Russia. Most other countries were on good terms with the United States.
President Mesta also got good marks on issues such as crime, health care, the economy, and the federal budget. The national budget was running surpluses as the benefits from improved infrastructure were realized. Perhaps the federal government would eventually, as Omar Fields wanted, become debt-free.
The main criticism against President Mesta involved his Virginia strategy. While sabotaging Virginia’s infrastructure sounded like good strategy, it had failed to topple General Krakowski. Stronger action needed to be taken.
Jeremy’s thoughts on running for president took a sharp turn when former president Calvin Marshall died. While lying on his deathbed, he declared that General Krakowski must be defeated as quickly as possible. Too many people had died so far. We must stop him because if we did not, more innocent people would be killed.
At that point, Jeremy resolved to run for president. It was his family and friends that were in jeopardy. Perhaps many of them had already been killed. He had to do everything in his power to end General Krakowski’s madness.
When Jeremy told Alicia about his decision, she agreed. She knew how much Virginia meant to her husband. If he believed that this was the best way to help his family and friends there while also helping the nation, then he should do it.
Jeremy’s next step was to consult with Kim Talbot. She was most willing to manage Jeremy’s campaign for president. She had managed many political campaigns before. This would be her first time managing a presidential campaign. Kim immediately started performing the steps to get Jeremy’s name on the ballot. She also arranged for Jeremy to announce his candidacy.
Then Jeremy informed President Mesta of his decision. The president expressed pleasure at Jeremy’s decision, promising his support. This boosted Jeremy’s confidence. The president’s endorsement would certainly boost his chances.
Jeremy continued by telling Senators Fletcher, Jacobs, and Wellander about his decision. They all promised Jeremy their support. Jeremy also got the support of every Iowa House member and Governor Conklin.
While Jeremy’s campaign came together, basketball season provided plenty for his family to cheer about. Lamoni, North, Wendy’s high school, won the girls’ state basketball championship. Alicia’s Des Moines, Lincoln, won the boys. Creighton’s women won the national college basketball championship again. Southern Iowa’s men made the playoffs but lost in the opening round to Arkansas, the eventual champion. Then St. Louis won the NBA.
Jeremy made his announcement on the west steps of the capitol building, one foot in Iowa and the other in Missouri. He looked out at the crowd that had gathered. Interspersed within the crowd were several television cameras and microphones. In the far corner of the crowd, he saw Alicia looking on with great interest.
“Thank all of you for attending tonight. When I was a little boy growing up in Virginia, life seemed good. Then, utter chaos broke out. My parents would not let me or my brother go outside. They did not go outside much themselves. When order was restored, I saw men in uniforms walking outside. They seemed like they were everywhere.
“By the time I was sixteen, I fully believed General Krakowski’s lies. Then, one day, my best friend told me he found a way to crawl under the fence that was blocking us from the Potomac River. Then we could swim to what had been our national capital. Under Virginia law, visiting DC without permission was a serious offense. But we crawled through the space anyway, curious about what we might find.
“At first, we did not see anything interesting. Just a bunch of wreckage and weeds. Then we met an elderly man. He explained to us the real situation in Virginia. He advised us to run up to Maryland as quickly as we could get there, before we got caught. But it was already too late. Virginia military men caught us, killed the old men, arrested my friend and me, and took us to Richmond.
“In Richmond, they locked me and my friend into two separate vacant rooms. We both stayed in those rooms for hours with nothing at all to do. It was dark out when military guards took me out of the room. On the way down the hall, I saw my friend. I tried to give him an encouraging look. He looked at me like he did not even recognize me.
“Next, they took me to a basement room. Army men in that room gave me an intense grilling, trying to get me to confess to being disloyal to Virginia. I knew that however hard they tried to make me confess, it was something that I must not do. At the end, they still had not extracted a confession from me. Obviously, I handled the pressure better than my friend did. They conferred, then came back saying that while they concluded that he could not be rehabilitated, they believed I could be.
“They took me to what they called a rehab house. It was really a prison. I had to put on orange prison clothes. When I tried to open a window in my room, it was nailed shut to keep anybody from getting out. Our food was highly insufficient to provide adequate nutrition. The next morning, every prisoner had to go to a reading room to read magazines there. Every magazine promoted ideas about General Krakowski that perpetuated his lies. I just pretended to read.
“After the reading session, the head of the prison asked me about the article that I supposedly read. I tried to bluff my way through it. But he knew I had not read the article. My punishment was to be taken into the basement, where I got a hard whipping. I spent the rest of the day working hard labor. Dinner was just a short break with the usual minimal food.
“The next day was my first and only day at school in Richmond. I had to wear the orange prison clothes. Everybody at the school knew what that meant. The students and teachers all avoided me, only acknowledging my presence when they moved away from me. One class took a test. They would not even give me a pencil.
“At that point, I realized that I had no future in Virginia. On the way home, I took a close look at the railroad tracks under a viaduct that I also crossed over on the way to school. I believed those railroad tracks were my best hope. That night, after another night of hard labor, I only pretended to swallow my sleeping pill when I lay down on that cot.
“My biggest regret is that I had to kill my roommate, who was really like a prison guard, to escape. With him out of the way, I made for the kitchen, grabbed a chair, smashed open a window, scrambled through, and ran for my life. Sirens blared the second I broke that window. As I ran, I hid in some alleys to avoid detection. Before long, I reached the railroad yard. Climbing over a fence, I got into the railroad yard and hid in some bushes.
“Finally, a northbound train slowly chugged through. I ran for an empty boxcar, placed both hands on its floor, vaulted into the boxcar, and scrambled into a back corner. While I was cowering in the boxcar, afraid of being caught, I looked outside as best I could. When I realized I was getting close to the Potomac River, I jumped out and made my way over to the river.
“My escape was still not over. A fence barricaded the river from the shore. I knew that if I tried to climb over, my clothes would get caught in the rolled barbed wire at the top. Not finding any other way, I stripped naked, climbed up to the top, pulled the barbed wire apart as best I could, and plunged into the river.
“My last task was to swim across the river. It was a much tougher task than the crossing my friend and I had made two days before. At this point, the river was about a mile wide. But there was no turning back. I swam with every bit of endurance I had. Thankfully, I reached the Maryland shore and then collapsed. When I came to, I was in a doctor’s office. They quickly checked my vitals and verified that I was OK. Soon after, I was treated to the best breakfast I’d had in years. Then I knew that the old man was right. Not only did I realize that I had to stay out of Virginia, but I also had to do everything I could to stop General Krakowski’s tyranny.
“We have had five presidents since the reunification process began. They have been excellent leaders who helped our nation reclaim its position on the world stage while trying to reunite it. There are still two states that have not rejoined our family of states. We may be the United States, but we are not the true United States with just forty-eight states.
“For this reason, I now announce my candidacy for President of the United States. General Krakowski’s madness must stop. My first campaign promise is that if elected, my priority will be to liberate Virginia and West Virginia. I will use military force if necessary. But during my administration, Virginia and West Virginia both will be liberated!”
Jeremy could barely even think over the thundering applause that responded to his announcement. He felt like suddenly the eyes of the entire world were on him. He also knew that General Krakowski would soon find out, if he hadn’t already. That meant that General Krakowski would increase his efforts to kill him. But duty to his country had priority. He had to do everything he possibly could to help complete the reunion process.
Alicia was understandably nervous when Jeremy got home. She knew just as well as he did what General Krakowski would try to do. But she agreed that duty to the country had priority.
The next day, Jeremy found himself watched by more Secret Service agents than ever before. It made him feel safer, though slightly uneasy. But they had their duty to the country too.
While trying to balance his duties in the Senate with his campaign, Jeremy started working closely with Kim Talbot to plan his campaign. She suggested starting with larger cities in the North, starting with Chicago. Detroit, Cleveland, New York, and Boston should all be on his itinerary. At this point, stops in the cities located closer to Virginia would not be as critical, because he already had heavy support there.
Another topic was who he wanted to endorse for vice president. Vice President Cassidy was clearly not interested. House Speaker Wagner was a possibility. Kim also suggested Senator Baker of Alabama, Governor Block of California, and Congressman Epple of Massachusetts. Jeremy agreed that they all seemed like good possibilities, though he did not know Governor Block very well. All were Constitution Party members who would readily support his efforts.
Suddenly, Jeremy came up with an idea. He asked about Governor Lofton of Maryland. Kim hesitated.
Then Kim responded, “Governor Lofton is a member of the Union Party, not your Constitution Party. Also, he is governor of a state where you already have overwhelming support. He would not be able to get many more votes among his constituents.”
“You made some good points,” Jeremy replied. “This is what I am thinking. Very few politicians in the nation support my efforts in taking down General Krakowski as fervently as he will. Also, heaven forbid, if he needs to take over as president, I believe he would make a good president.”
“I agree you made some good points,” agreed Kim. “If that is who you think would be your best choice for vice president, then ask him.”
Jeremy contacted Governor Lofton the later that day. The governor was surprised that a presidential candidate from the other party would recommend him for vice president. But he readily accepted.
The next day, Jeremy made his announcement. “For my vice president, I choose to endorse Governor Harold Lofton of Maryland.” The rather surprised audience nonetheless applauded his decision. If he believed the best person for the job was a member of the other party, he must know what he is doing. News commentators across the country commended his decision. President Mesta also supported his decision, even if Governor Lofton had been his chief opponent in the prior presidential election.
Jeremy’s endorsement of Governor Lofton for vice president left the Union Party in a quandary. They could not very well ask the governor to run against the man who had endorsed him for vice president. They came up with a tricky idea of their own. Senator Laurin Case of New Jersey, a Union Party senator, decided to run for president. The Union Party quickly endorsed her. Then she also endorsed Governor Lofton for VP. That way, the Union Party had a seemingly secure lock on the vice presidency.
While the campaign heated up, Wendy graduated from high school. Jeremy and Alicia sat proudly in the audience along with Julie, Vincent, Brenda, and her soon-to-be husband. The unending presence of Secret Service agents made this ceremony particularly notable. Not only did they sit clearly around Jeremy and his family, one of them even escorted Wendy when she received her diploma. Wendy would soon attend University of Missouri, where she would major in journalism.
Jeremy’s campaign kicked off in earnest, starting with the five cities that Kim Talbot suggested. He persistently pounded away at General Krakowski with his call for military intervention to stop the general’s tyranny. He got his most thunderous applause in New York, right in Senator Case’s backyard.
Senator Case struck back by campaigning in Jeremy’s strongholds. She tended to avoid the Virginia situation because she could not overtly disagree with Jeremy. She resorted to issues such as the economy, foreign policy, urban renewal, and the federal budget. She started by campaigning in Baltimore, Pittsburgh, and Cincinnati. She then took her campaign to the Southeast, with stops in Charlotte and Atlanta.
Because Senator Case did not mention any ideas that might have been better alternatives to Jeremy’s plan against General Krakowski, she continued to trail Jeremy in the polls. Meanwhile, Governor Lofton lightly campaigned, claiming only that he would work well with either presidential candidate. When Miami won the College World Series, it took a back seat to the presidential campaigns.
Late in the summer, an athletic institution occurred for the first time since the dissolution. The Summer Olympics were held in Detroit. Most nations wanted the United States to host the first one. Detroit was chosen because of its remarkable progress since the dissolution.
Jeremy next went westward. Had the electoral college still been in use, Jeremy would not have needed to campaign in Texas. But under the popular vote, the huge population in Texas had great potential to increase Jeremy’s popular vote total.
After campaigning in Dallas and Houston, it was on to Albuquerque. Kim Talbot briefed Jeremy before this appearance. While Jeremy appeared to be in good shape there with his diatribes against General Krakowski and his endorsement from President Mesta, they also had economic concerns. In New Mexico, the economic recovery from the dissolution had been particularly slow.
During his campaign speech, Jeremy emphasized the need for investment. Build better schools. Establish more programs so people could learn how to perform substantive work. Much of the groundwork had been done by building better roads, plumbing, electric power, and railroads. He promised to make initiatives to facilitate continued improvements. His speech was well-received. Then it was on to the West Coast.
First, he made campaign stops in four California cities: San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Sacramento. Then it was on up to Portland and Seattle. On the way back home, Jeremy made one more campaign stop, in Denver.
Jeremy felt exhausted at the end of his whirlwind tour. At least the polls showed him with a comfortable lead, ahead of Senator Case by fifteen points. But he knew he had to keep pounding on the campaign trail.
Brenda’s wedding was most unusual. Secret Service agents seemed ubiquitous. They made sure that every person entering the church was an invited guest. Everyone except Jeremy and his family were checked for weapons, even the presiding minister and the groom. Tense though it was, the ceremony went smoothly. Jeremy experienced one of his proudest moments when he walked Brenda down the aisle. Alicia looked equally pleased. Brenda and Noah looked so happy together.
By the time of the reception, people were feeling less nervous about the Secret Service agents. Everyone except the Secret Service agents enjoyed themselves. The Secret Service agents, of course, were doing their work.
After the reception, Noah and Brenda drove off to their honeymoon in the Ozarks with Secret Service agents following. The rest of the Voorhies family drove up to Lamoni, likewise accompanied by Secret Service agents. Soon, Julie and Wendy prepared to go off to college. Meanwhile, Jeremy’s campaign entered the homestretch.
Appearances in Minneapolis and Milwaukee drew thunderous applause. His next appearances, in Indianapolis and Louisville, were also huge successes.
His next stop, in Nashville, did not go so well. While Kim Talbot did not think a campaign stop in Nashville was necessary, because he already had heavy support there, Jeremy felt it would be a worthwhile stop.
In an awkward way, Jeremy’s appearance in Nashville proved to be his most successful. While he was making his campaign speech, a Secret Service agent suddenly knocked him down. A split second later, a bullet zoomed through the spot where he had just been standing. While Jeremy stayed down, a crowd swarmed on the man who had fired the shot. This would-be assassin was quickly overpowered and arrested.
It was just as quickly determined that this would-be assassin had acted on orders from General Krakowski. When Jeremy got up to continue speaking, he yelled, “OK, Krakowski, you are so afraid of me that hired a hit man to bump me off! If I’m elected, it will be either me or you! Did you hear that, Krakowski?” Then Jeremy, visibly shaken, picked up where he left off, completing another successful speech.
After the assassination attempt, Jeremy’s popularity soared more than ever. Polls showed him projected to get 60 percent of the vote. He completed his campaign swing with appearances in Memphis, New Orleans, Birmingham, Charlotte, Columbia, Atlanta, and Jacksonville. Then it was back to Lamoni for some much-needed rest. Kim Talbot agreed that a rest would be a good idea.
Alicia’s gentle affection soothed Jeremy considerably. Vincent helped by expressing great confidence in him. While Alicia had already informed their daughters that Jeremy was OK, they all expressed relief to hear their father’s voice when he phoned them.
During the last days before the election, he made four more brief campaign stops nearby. He first stopped in Cedar Rapids. A newspaper there had criticized Jeremy for devoting too much time to his campaign and not enough to his Iowa constituency. Then he made his final appearances in St. Louis, Kansas City, and Omaha. His last speech was at Creighton University. There he also got the loudest applause in his entire campaign. Everyone affiliated with the school brimmed with confidence that Jeremy would become its first alum ever to become president.
Then Jeremy went back home and waited. The polls showed him still having a comfortable lead. But the votes had not yet been cast.
On election day, Senator Case took an early lead with strong support from New Jersey and New York City. Votes in Upstate New York and New England favored Jeremy somewhat, but not enough to overcome Senator Case’s success in the early results.
Senator Case’s lead did not last long. Voting results from Delaware, Maryland, and Pennsylvania gave Jeremy his first lead. The voters in the liberated parts of Virginia and West Virginia, though small in number, voted 90 percent for Jeremy. His lead widened as more people from the states bordering Virginia and West Virginia voted heavily for him. Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, and North Carolina all boosted his lead significantly.
While Senator Case’s percentage of the votes grew a little in the remaining states east of the Mississippi River, Jeremy’s lead in the popular vote still widened.
Once the votes from west of the Mississippi River started getting counted, Jeremy’s percentage of the popular vote started increasing again. Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, and North Dakota all voted heavily for Jeremy. Then Texas, with its large voting population, started reporting its results. The Texas precincts consistently reported 60–65 percent for Jeremy. That decided the election. Senator Case could not overcome such a large lead.
Had the electoral college still been the law, Senator Case would have won a few states in the West. But those majorities were too puny to make any headway. Jeremy’s lead in the popular vote kept growing. Finally, at about eleven o’clock that night, Senator Case conceded the election to Jeremy. He would be the sixth president under the new constitution.
Jeremy waited until the next morning to make his victory speech. “First off, I would like to thank all the voters for choosing me as their next president. Our nation has made huge strides since the dissolution. Foreign relations have never been better. The economy continues strengthening. But the biggest task still lies ahead. We are not truly the United States until our family of states is complete. When I start my new job as president, I will immediately take action against General Krakowski. The good American citizens still living under his tyranny will be liberated!”
Between the election and the inauguration, President Mesta used his remaining time in office to try to make things easier for Jeremy. His artillery stepped up the effort to knock down Virginia’s border walls. The result was more escapees but, unfortunately, more casualties too. Krakowski kept trying to strike back but was unable to do significant damage.
Meanwhile, Vincent became the most popular kid at his school. It seemed like every girl in the school wanted to be his date to the inaugural ball. His accompanying Secret Service agents protected him from excessive mobbing. In fact, every member of Jeremy’s family was being closely guarded. Alicia’s parents were also being protected. Even when Jeremy and Alicia went to bed at night, Secret Service agents surrounded their house.
Through the constant endeavor of campaigning, Jeremy did not follow pro baseball at all. When he finally thought to ask, Vincent informed him that Portland had won the World Series.
Soon, Jeremy and Alicia got a full tour of the White House. Jeremy looked on with wonder at the mansion that he helped construct. It had the splendor, comforts, and conveniences befitting a president. He was also shown a secret passage that could transport him to the capitol and the Supreme Court building whenever he needed it to. Then he was shown another secret passage. This one could quickly transport him to Kansas City or Des Moines in case of emergency. Finally, he and Alicia were shown the White House helicopter, which was parked in the backyard. This could transport him to the Lamoni airport, where the presidential airplane could transport him to any location he wanted.
Now at least Jeremy could settle down enough to follow the end of the football season. When Oklahoma whipped Miami for the national championship, Jeremy felt a strange sense of calm. He was aware of the football dynasty that Oklahoma had before the dissolution, and somehow it made him feel like things were coming together.
For Christmas, the Voorhies family put on a huge gala. Despite the omnipresence of the Secret Service, it was a most festive occasion. Alicia’s parents, both of her sisters, and their families attended. But Jeremy’s biggest present was when his aunts, Cindy and Vicky, arrived from Pennsylvania with his Grandma Voorhies. This truly was a merry Christmas.
Jeremy paid little attention to the Super Bowl, which was won by New Orleans. Instead, he devoted his time to choosing his cabinet. Clara Metcalf was stepping down as treasury secretary after twelve years. She suggested Michael Harken, the head of the Chicago Federal Reserve Bank, as her replacement. Jeremy took her suggestion. For secretary of state, he chose Oliver Matthews, a congressman from Florida who had considerable experience with foreign policy. For defense secretary, he selected Admiral Alexander Yoest from New York. The admiral was well-known for his viewpoint that only military action could liberate the Virginias. He quickly decided on his other advisors, keeping a few from the Mesta administration.
Soon came the momentous day. Standing on a platform with a Bible being held by a local minister, Jeremy, following along with the minister, spoke the famous words, “I, Jeremy Voorhies, do solemnly affirm that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States and will to the best of my ability preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.”
Next came the inaugural parade, led by Delaware. Jeremy felt a lump rise in his throat when Virginia passed by, represented by just one band from Marion. At least West Virginia was better represented, with one band from Wheeling and one from Huntington.
The inaugural ball was a festive success. Jeremy looked like a leader, dressed up in a tuxedo. Alicia looked equally splendid. Brenda and Noah much enjoyed the occasion. Julie and Wendy brought dates from their respective schools. Vincent attended, accompanied by Kaitlyn Glass. He could have brought any girl he wanted, but he stuck with Kaitlyn, not wanting to hurt his girl’s feelings.
Dignitaries from many foreign countries attended. A British diplomat offered assistance to help liberate Virginia. Jeremy replied that this was an internal matter, but the British could position ships in nearby international waters. Speaking through translators, diplomats from China, Russia, and France offered the same assistance. Jeremy’s response was the same. At least Jeremy was glad to know that these foreign countries were so willing to help.
Jeremy enjoyed seeing many personal friends from his past. Lt. Williams had worked his way up to lieutenant colonel before retiring from the army. He was working as a business consultant in Omaha. Sergeant Hackwell was still in the army, now holding the rank of major. He was stationed in Kingsport, Tennessee, ready to participate in the upcoming liberation. PFC Brittingham had worked his way up to sergeant, later getting an honorable discharge. He was working as a school administrator in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico. Vincent Black attended with his wife, Molly. They had three children.
An elderly Gary Kaufman attended. Jeremy again expressed gratitude to the man who found him passed out next to the Potomac River.
His most rewarding reunion was when he met with Patty Pierce, who had since married a doctor named Greene. They had two children. Jeremy could not thank his rescuer enough. He told Dr. Greene that he would probably not be alive if it had not been for Patty.
The next day, Jeremy met with his military leaders and secretary of state to plan the invasion. Alicia asked if she could also attend. Jeremy said she could. He could not say no to his wife.
Alicia remained silent at the meeting, just poring over maps of Virginia and West Virginia.
Meanwhile, Jeremy talked about strategy for the upcoming military action. They agreed that their forces should attack from all different sides of the area held by General Krakowski. First, they would knock down as much of the border wall as needed, opening the lanes for infantry. The air force would provide support, as would the navy at the Virginia Tidewater area. General Krakowski’s forces would be so outnumbered that any defense would be futile.
After the meeting, Alicia asked if she could offer some advice. Jeremy said yes, knowing that he would always hear out Alicia. Alicia showed Jeremy the maps she had been studying. Using her experience in city planning, she pointed out a major flaw in the Virginia infrastructure. The electric power grid depended on three large power plants: one located near Richmond, another near Arlington, and one located nearer to Lynchburg. Take out those three plants and Virginia’s electric power would be decimated, preventing General Krakowski and his cronies from coordinating their defense.
Jeremy liked Alicia’s idea. He mentioned it to his military officials. They agreed to the idea. At one o’clock the morning after the next day, air force bombers would destroy those power plants. Then the attack would begin.
That night, Jeremy stared out the front portico of the White House, eastward, with a full view of the capitol. While he knew that Virginia was south of straight eastward from his location, he spent the whole time thinking about Virginia. While he may have been an Iowa politician, he still believed he was really a Virginian. He had long believed that the action he was about to lead was the only way to oust General Krakowski. Now he just prayed that this action would be a success, with minimal injury.
At the appointed time, air force bombers destroyed the three power plants. The surprise hit prevented Krakowski’s air force from defending. Now, with the power outage, the real invasion could begin.
Once the other military forces were informed of the destroyed power plants, the air force, artillery, and naval forces pounded the general’s walls. The electrically wired parts of the barrier were rendered ineffective. Now the ground forces could move in and occupy. Silently, the world watched as a great nation fought to resolve its most serious issue.
The liberation progressed quickly in West Virginia. This state was comparatively lightly defended. The liberating soldiers easily moved forward. The defending soldiers who called West Virginia home started killing their own officers, who were all from Virginia. Citizens, awakened by the commotion, looked outside and realized what was happening. Many opened their windows and cheered for their liberators.
Alicia’s suggestion had worked. Without their electric power, the Virginia leaders were unable to successfully coordinate a defense. Morgantown was liberated in under an hour. Those troops then moved on toward Fairmont and Clarksburg. The US military roared eastward from Huntington, determined to liberate Charleston. Other key places in West Virginia along the Ohio River were quickly occupied, pushing Krakowski’s troops further back.
As daylight started, more progress started in better-defended Virginia. Ships had effectively decimated all resistance in the Virginia Peninsula area. Soon, the major cities in that area were completely liberated.
Jeremy decided that he should fly to Virginia to get a better grasp on the conflict. Alicia expressed concern about her husband’s safety. But Jeremy told Alicia that he owed the country everything he could do to obtain success. Nervously, Alicia relented. Soon, Jeremy was flying in the presidential airplane to Norfolk.
While in flight, Jeremy was notified that the West Virginia liberation was rapidly moving forward. Charleston, Beckley, and many other key cities had already been liberated. Troops moving south from Maryland had already liberated the easternmost parts of West Virginia and had moved into Virginia. Everywhere, people in the parts of West Virginia that had been liberated were welcoming the US soldiers like heroes.
Before Jeremy reached Norfolk, he learned that Danville, Virginia, had been liberated. He sent orders to the troops there to try to locate Vincent Black’s family. When they were found, he wanted to know.
The progress was slowest in the Arlington-Alexandria area. Noticing the progress being made a little further to the west, Jeremy suggested sending the troops that had liberated northern Virginia cities like Winchester, Leesburg, and Front Royal toward Arlington and Alexandria to help the fighters there. His commanders, agreeing that their commander-in-chief’s idea sounded like good strategy, followed through with his suggestion. Jeremy had personal reasons for wanting Arlington to be liberated, but he also understood the strategic value of this part of the state.
Progress in West Virginia slowed down as the federal troops reached the more mountainous eastern part of the state. Krakowski’s defenders utilized the rough terrain to better fortify their positions. Further south, the federals were advancing on Bluefield and White Sulfur Springs, Krakowski’s last significant strongholds in the state.
By nightfall, Jeremy was pleased with the progress made on the first day. West Virginia was, for the most part, liberated. The strategic Virginia Peninsula was likewise liberated. The same was true in scattered areas in northern and southern Virginia.
The next day brought more good news. Troops occupying Southfield, West Virginia, crossed into Virginia and liberated Virginia’s Southfield. Troops advancing from Kentucky took over the southwestern tip of Virginia virtually unopposed. Pockets of Virginia troops in the eastern West Virginia mountains laid down their weapons upon learning the state was almost entirely liberated. Some even started assisting the federals.
More good news arrived from Danville. Vincent Black’s parents had been located. Jeremy arranged for them to fly to Cedar Rapids, then had Vincent Black notified of the time of their expected arrival.
By noon, West Virginia was declared completely liberated. Leaders from Wheeling, Parkersburg, and Huntington all went to Charleston to start organizing a new state government.
Troops in Virginia found the advancement more difficult. They found little resistance in the small towns. But they encountered stiff resistance in the cities. Not only did the defenders of the major northern Virginia cities hold the attackers coming across the Potomac River at bay, but the liberators advancing from the west got bogged down at Manassas. The federals advancing on Richmond met stiff resistance at Williamsburg. Troops advancing from North Carolina liberated several cities, but no particularly large ones. They started merging to prepare an assault against Petersburg. Forces in the west merged at Wytheville, then started an advance on Roanoke. By the end of the day, Williamsburg was liberated, with resistance in Petersburg crumbling.
Virginia troops began retreating on the third day. Federal troops took advantage by liberating both Roanoke and Lynchburg. Petersburg fell too, enabling federal troops to approach Richmond. The reason for the Virginia soldiers retreating was clear. They were gathering to make last stands defending Krakowski’s two remaining strongholds, Richmond and the cities clustered around Arlington and Alexandria.
By the end of the fourth day, nearly all of Virginia except Krakowski’s last two strongholds had been liberated. Manassas was quickly taken after its Virginia troops left. Now the hardest part of the liberation started.
In Cedar Rapids, Vincent Blake enjoyed a happy, tear-filled reunion with his parents. Vincent was happy to hear that his siblings were all OK. But he was sorry to learn that a nephew whom he knew nothing about had been killed in battle.
The fifth day witnessed the heaviest fighting so far. But the outcome was never in doubt. Krakowski’s troops were too badly outnumbered. As the day gave way to darkness, Jeremy moved closer to Richmond. He saw a huge, orange glow in the night sky to the west. An enormous fire was burning out of control in Richmond. Jeremy wondered how many innocent people were killed.
Richmond capitulated just after daybreak on the sixth day. Kyle Kirtley was shot and killed trying to escape the capitol. But there was no word on General Krakowski’s whereabouts.
Jeremy was driven to the Virginia capitol, then escorted into the building. He looked around at cluttered rubble and broken glass. He wondered how something so terrible could happen in the United States. Then he thought about the Civil War. This time the opposing forces used Richmond for their capital, just like in the Civil War. This time also, the conflict climaxed with the fall of Richmond. The similarities were striking.
Soon Jeremy learned that General Krakowski was dead. He had committed suicide by shooting himself with a pistol. Jeremy then said he wanted to see it.
Jeremy was driven out to a huge, opulent house west of downtown. He could tell it had been built sometime after the dissolution. This madman had expended so much of the state’s money to build his home while giving its citizens the minimum for their own well-being.
Jeremy was escorted to the third, and top, floor, to a room in the southeast corner of the building. There he saw the nefarious general lying dead on the floor, with a bullet wound in the head. The revolver was nearby.
As Jeremy began leaving the building, he heard what sounded like human activity in one room. The room was locked from the outside. Jeremy ordered the door unlocked and opened.
Jeremy got one of the biggest shocks of his life when he looked inside the dark, windowless room. It was Lisa Plummer with five children whom he guessed were between the ages of four and eighteen. Lisa recoiled in fear when she realized who she now face-to-face with. Now she was sure she would get further punishment, on top of abuse she had already suffered.
But Jeremy knew this was no time for vindictiveness. He reached out and took Lisa’s hand. He promised to send her and her children to a medical center in Pittsburgh for treatment. Once her parents were located, she could be reunited with them. Lisa admitted that after she got out of prison, she had gone to Virginia, thinking it was the only place that would take her. Instead, she became a sex slave to General Krakowski, then to Kyle Kirtley.
Now there was only one part the state to liberate, his old stomping grounds in northern Virginia. Jeremy ordered to be flown up there. His plane was flown up to Richmond, where he boarded and started flying up to what had once been Dulles International Airport.
Shortly after the plane landed, Jeremy learned some sobering news. A nuclear missile was found in a silo near Lynchburg. The power outage prevented it from being launched. Jeremy pondered how many thousands of lives were saved because of Alicia’s advice. She was indeed a remarkable first lady.
On the way up, Jeremy learned that once the Virginia soldiers in that area learned about Krakowski’s death, they stopped fighting. Deciding it was much safer than before to tour the area, he asked his limo driver to take him into the cities. This area had not been as badly damaged as Richmond. There were some damaged and destroyed buildings, but most buildings had survived unscathed.
As Jeremy drew closer to Arlington, he started getting his bearings. He directed his driver to his childhood home. Luckily, it was still standing. Jeremy had his reservations as his Secret Service agents escorted him to the front door. Perhaps his parents were no longer living there. Possibly, they might no longer be living.
Jeremy knocked on the front door. He saw someone peering out from behind a front curtain but could not see who it was. Soon the door opened. It was his mother, with his father standing behind her. “Mom, Dad!” Jeremy shouted. “It’s me, Jeremy. I’ve come home!”
Believing that Jeremy had drowned twenty-nine years ago, both Loras and Leona had become resigned to never seeing him again. But they could tell by looking at him that he was really their son, just somewhat older. The overjoyed threesome exchanged hugs and kisses while also shedding some tears. The parents were even more astonished to learn that their boy had become the nation’s president, who had led the effort to liberate them and everyone living in Virginia and West Virginia.
While they caught up on what had happened since they parted ways, Jeremy asked about his brother and sister. Both were married. Bart had three children. Jane had two. Bart was living close by, in Reston. Jane was farther away, in Charlottesville. Jeremy directed that cars be sent to both siblings so they and their families could be brought there.
In about an hour, Bart arrived with his wife and children. Bart was just as surprised and happy to see his older brother, whom he thought he would never see again. Jeremy told him the same things he had told his parents, such as the successful, albeit exhausting, swim across the Potomac River. He then went on to talk about his rescue in Maryland, being taken to Des Moines, attending high school in Des Moines and Grinnell, his trial, Alicia, his graduation from the Creighton ROTC program, his service in the army, and his rise to the presidency.
It was after dark when Jane arrived with her family. She could hardly wait to see him. More hugs, more kisses, and more tears. The Secret Service agents, who were posted all around the house, allowed the reunited family its private time. Jeremy signaled to an agent, asking that dinner be brought for his family. A restaurant in Maryland gladly provided a grand banquet at no charge. None of Jeremy’s family could even remember ever having such a scrumptious meal.
A snowstorm rendered the Lamoni airport unusable. That meant Jeremy could not fly home that night. In fact, twelve people jammed into the house for the night. They were all so glad to be together. While he was there, he took Bart aside.
“I was wondering,” Jeremy began, “if you would like to be appointed governor of Virginia.”
Startled, Bart replied, “What do I know about governing a state?”
“About as much as anybody else in Virginia does,” Jeremy answered. “We know the challenges Virginia will face now that it is liberated. Don’t worry. We will help you.”
“What about West Virginia?” Bart asked.
“They have many more people who have been liberated for years,” Jeremy continued. “They have good people who can lead their recovery process. Besides, we will be helping them too.”
With that, Bart accepted the job. Having a good person leading the state would benefit its recovery.
Now Jeremy had one person left to track down. He asked if Vincent Blake could be located.
Vincent Blake was flown to Arlington the next day. Jeremy received his old buddy with open arms. But Vincent looked like he did not recognize Jeremy. Perhaps Vincent felt like he should know the man who had just embraced him but could not be sure.
The agent who brought Vincent updated Jeremy. Vincent had been taken to West Virginia after his grilling in the Richmond hospital. He had been forced to work hard labor ever since. He was treated like a kind of subhuman the whole time. By this point, Vincent could hardly comprehend anything. He was found in a run-down group home near Weston.
Jeremy decided that Vincent Blake could live with him in the White House. There, he could find the best psychiatric help available. Jeremy also invited his own parents to come and live with him. They decided to accept his offer, but they needed some time to prepare. Bart and Jane would stay in Virginia.
Later in the day, the Lamoni airport was opened for business. The Secret Service drove Jeremy and Vincent to the airport, where both men flew in the presidential airplane to Lamoni. Jeremy received a hero’s welcome when the plane touched down. Crowds cheered and waved as the Secret Service escorted Jeremy and his friend to the presidential limo. Jeremy smiled and waved back.
The ride to the White House went slowly. So many people crowded around the streets to get a look at Jeremy. Some people just smiled and waved. Others yelled out things like “congratulations,” “great job,” and “thank you.” Jeremy smiled and waved back, relishing the success.
Upon arriving at the White House, Jeremy received more acclaim. Alicia, their children, and Noah all embraced him, with many kisses exchanged. Brenda topped it off by announcing that she was pregnant with Jeremy and Alicia’s first grandchild.
After letting Jeremy enjoy his time with his family, the White House staff all gave Jeremy their accolades. Jeremy then tried to relax after such a momentous experience. But he was too excited to relax. Deciding that he must speak to the American public the next day, he told his speechwriter to prepare that speech. The speechwriter, knowing that the order was coming, had already started.
Praises continued to flood in. They were too numerous to read every one, though Jeremy resolved he would gradually do it. These praises came from ordinary citizens, business leaders, and political leaders everywhere in the world. Some of the accolades came from countries he had never heard of. When he got a tribute from Kiribati, Jeremy had an aide find it on a globe.
That night, he got a note from the British prime minister. He informed Jeremy that several world leaders had conferred. They agreed that the new United Nations headquarters should be in the United States. They suggested building it in what was once Washington, DC. Jeremy replied that he liked the idea. The British prime minister in turn replied that it was a done deal.
Jeremy woke up the next morning bright and refreshed. Aides told him he had received a note from a woman named Lisa Plummer. Jeremy wanted to read it. She thanked Jeremy for being so kind to her and her children. They were going to be all right. After they were released, they would join her family. They had moved to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, after she was convicted. Jeremy sent a quick note back saying he was happy for them.
As Jeremy walked toward the front steps of the White House, he could not help but think about how he had helped build this splendid edifice. Now he felt like this building was the center of the world and that he was the most popular person in the world. But Jeremy had already resolved not to mention any of that.
At the appointed time, Jeremy walked up to a podium on the front steps. Alicia sat in a chair next to him. The cheers and applause were so loud that he could hardly hear himself think. He had to motion for silence several times before he could start speaking. He knew that in addition to the huge crowd, millions more people around the world were watching on television and listening on radio.
“My fellow Americans,” he began, “and every citizen in the world, we are all pleased to have reached this momentous event in our history. But first, I would like to observe a minute of silence for those who gave their lives during the overthrow of General Krakowski. This goes not only for those who fought for us but also for those who fought against us. They were American citizens too.”
The entire crowd fell silent. After one minute had passed, Jeremy started his speech. The crowd kept silent, eager to hear the words of their elected leader.
“We are all gathered, not just the people here but also those who are witnessing via the media, to celebrate one of the most pivotal events in history. It is abhorrent to know that right here in the United States, a country that has long stood as the beacon of freedom for all people, a tyrannical dictator could achieve the power to dominate millions of people in our nation. We must all remember so that we do not allow such a disaster to happen. Our government must carefully monitor its finances. Never again should we allow our debt to become so burdensome that it forces the federal government out of business. The entire world suffered because of our negligence. This should never happen.
“Now that this dictator has been defeated, we are truly the United States again, a complete union of fifty states. While I have received extreme praise for my effort, we must honor many more people who helped make this possible. I have been preceded by five other presidents who greatly advanced the cause of reunification. They all deserve praise. Additionally, we must praise many cabinet members for their contributions. I would specifically like to thank Omar Fields, who took the lead in establishing a sound monetary system. Many politicians, including senators, congresspeople, and a multitude of state leaders, deserve praise for their work. Our military deserves praise for doing its job every time it was needed. We must also thank our business leaders. Many business leaders have done great things for our nation to make it prosperous. During the reunification, the railroad industry took the lead in fixing our transportation to make it more effective and efficient than it ever was before. Industries such as banking, insurance, agriculture, energy, and others, too numerous to mention, made important contributions.
“There is one more person whom I would like to commend. That is my wife, Alicia.” Alicia smiled. “She gave us a valuable suggestion that proved most useful in our liberation effort.” The crowd applauded.
“If there was one benefit of our disaster, it was for the environment. Fossil fuel usage dropped sharply. Our climate, which was suffering from global warming, began becoming more normal. Our entire planet is healthier than it was before. We must appreciate our railroad industry for inventing cleaner, more efficient methods for their type of transportation. These new cables, designed for quicker, more efficient, and cleaner automobile transportation, will continue to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.
“But our effort is in no way completed. Please remember that the most important success anybody can attain is in how much they helped make the world a better place. Think of our teachers, our physicians, our law enforcement, and of both public and private leaders whom we must always commend. Everyone must contribute to help achieve greater success. I am pleased to say that our foreign relations have never been better. The world’s nations have never been so dependent on each other. We must all cooperate so that everybody can enjoy worldwide success. This cooperation has been endorsed by many of the world’s largest nations. I am particularly pleased that Russia and China have promised to work with the United States to lead the world toward this success. The world will never become a utopia, but the more we all work together, the better things will get.
“Finally, I would like to honor one man very few of you have heard of. When my friend Vincent Blake and I made our escapade into Washington, DC, we met an elderly man named David Grove. He grew up in a small Iowa town named Wiota. He taught us the real situation with General Krakowski and the United States. When we were found by Virginia military men, David Grove was shot and killed. But he convinced me to leave Virginia and become a productive citizen for the United States. Without him, I would not be here now. David Grove, in fact, gave up his life for our country. I would like to have a memorial to David Grove built in Wiota. We must honor this fine man who gave the ultimate sacrifice for the betterment of our country and, ultimately, the lives of every person in the world.”
Within days, Jeremy received official notice that West Virginia had approved the new Constitution. One week later, Jeremy received official notice from his brother Bart that Virginia had done the same. The United States had become fully reunited.
