Chapter Text
1eight Months Later
“Bartender, dos mas por favor.” Emma held up two fingers and winced before remembering she wasn’t in Baja anymore. Rubbing the deep cut across the top of her hand to ease the sting, Emma stared incredulously at the wound. ‘When did I get this?’ We aren’t discussing that anytime soon mi gemela . A somber smile appeared as the weathered-looking barman walked her way with the tequila bottle. He re-filled her shot glasses and turned to walk off, but she wrapped her fingers around the bottle.
“Why don’t you leave it? I have big plans for that bottle.”
He leaned on his elbows, sizing her up. “Aren’t you a little too young to be trying to destroy your liver? You put a serious hurt on my whiskey stock yesterday. You don’t look like you have been eating or sleeping much. Kid, no matter how bad you think it is, the answer isn’t found at the bottom of a bottle.”
Her shoulders dropped a little lower. Even a blind man could tell this one had more monkeys on her back than she could handle.
He looked around the almost empty bar. It was quiet by any standard even for a Tuesday.
“I tell you what; I will keep pouring if you start talking. I mean no bullshit. Tell me what ails you. In exchange for your sorrow, I promise beer and tacos.”
She looked at him skeptically. “Are you a bartender or a fucking priest?”
“You look like you need to talk and I gotta be here all night anyway. I don’t feel like listening to Dan bitch about how his wife isn’t interested in sex since the baby was born. And, I really don’t feel like listening to that lawyer that comes in here to brag about his conquests because he’s just sad. Everyone knows he’s gay ‘cept him. Sooner or later he’ll man up, find the right guy and everything will be fine. Doesn’t mean I have to listen to the lies every Tuesday. Annie, the other beauty over in the corner, she’s doing work on her phone just like yesterday and only wants another lite beer every half hour. That leaves you and Verne; he doesn’t talk much. He’s a mopey drunk. So, what do you say?”
Emma glanced around the bar. He had adequately described the rest of the bar. In the fringes of the darkened room there were others, but then again the barmaids dealt with them. “As long it isn’t fish tacos, I’ll take the deal.”
He drank her second shot and put an icy Negro Modelo in front of her.
“Would you believe me if I said this was over a woman?”
“Isn’t it always?” He grinned at her and walked off toward the window. He grabbed two plates of authentic soft tacos. “So, start talkin’ kid. I know I look great, but I am an old man. I would like to hear this story before I drop dead.”
She gave him a snicker at his commentary and took a bite. The al pastor pork, onion, and cilantro dripped from the edges of the tortilla as she took a bite expelling a deep moan that she didn’t know was coming.
“God, that is so good.” Emma chewed for a second, took a sip and sat the beer back down. “I hate that I am beginning to forget how she smells, what her laugh sounded like when she was genuinely happy, how her skin felt…” Emma stared out at the window at San Francisco Bay. “I hoped traveling, and work would help get her out of my head. I even tried filling my bed a time or two. All it did was remind me what I don’t have; what I can’t have.”
She leaned on her elbows and ate her taco for a few minutes. The bartender ate and watched her. He waited her out. This was the beginning of the tale; she only needed to find her starting place.
“Over a year ago my mother had tracked me down. That doesn’t sound like a crisis, but my foster mother is crazy and powerful. When she came to town, I knew I had to save her . It was my fault that my mother ever met her, grew an interest in her money and power. That was all on me. I couldn’t do that to Regina. God, that woman was the most…” Emma closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “That woman was the most beautiful, maddening creature ever born. She was perfect. She knew she was the Head Bitch in Charge, but she didn’t see herself. She only saw the front she showed the world. Regina was kind and would sacrifice what was good for herself to take care of me. She did it even when I didn’t deserve it.” A little less truth, please. Talking about her will not improve our circumstance, but it will inspire both of us to try to drown in that bottle.
She drank more of her beer and sat silently. “I know you think I should go back. I would if I could.”
He gave her a look that anyone on earth would interpret as you poor little idiot.
“It’s not like that. If I go back, she is going to get sucked into a federal investigation. It will ruin her private life, maybe even her job. My mother is one awful bitch. To save Regina, I had to take a walk. It was part of the deal.”
His look of superiority changed to disbelief mixed with sadness.
“She deserves everything. I want her to be happy. That means life without me in it.”
His hangdog look meant he knew the feeling. “You make her sound perfect.”
Emma shook her head. “Too much of a control freak to be perfect, but I think we could’ve worked it out if my mother hadn’t turned my world to shit. When I left, I was a broken, angry fool and expected her to know that most of what they accused me of, I didn’t do. Your talent for fabrication still needs work; you are staying too close to the truth. But, she isn’t omnipotent. She had no way of knowing. I wanted her to be. No, I demanded her to know. But, I also needed to keep her safe which means away from me. I put her in danger then, and it would not be any better now.”
Emma finished her meal and her beer. She had to admit that she felt a little better. If for no other reason than she acknowledged the possibility that Regina was not as at fault for the clusterfuck their relationship had become as Emma pretended to believe most days. You know that the cataclysm resulted from our end, not hers. Emma shook the thoughts from her head again. What difference does it make?
“I think you can admit this beer isn’t going to be strong enough, so can I get another tequila and” she shook her nearly empty bottle, “maybe another one of these too.”
He winked at her and poured the shot. “Damn!” She looked up at him when his eyes had shot back to the door.
She knew this meant she was no longer the prettiest woman in the room, but he was wearing beer goggles too so she didn’t bother looking. Warming her bed stopped being a priority a long time ago; Emma didn’t want anyone to take an interest. She’d had enough meaningless sex to prove to herself that she needed time alone. Celibate even.
Her phone pinged a message.
Annie: Be prepared to depart. Incoming directives. Will clarify as soon as have details.
Emma internally cringed. Her handler had been considerate enough to leave her space at the bar, but she never let Emma feel alone. Or off the clock.
A purse dropped on the bar beside her.
“Mind if I sit down?”
Emma spun to the side in shock. “What the fuck are you doing here?” Leaping backward from her stool, recoiling.
Ruby’s lopsided grin fell a little. “I am coming to rescue your worthless ass from yourself. The least you can do is quit being a little bitch about it.”
“I don’t need saving!” Emma glared at her former friend. “Besides, you know I get ‘handled’ anyway.”
Ruby glanced over at Annie, then lifted an eyebrow, eerily reminding Emma of an entirely different woman. “You don’t get to pull a Leaving Los Vegas. I can’t sit back and watch you do it even from a distance.”
Emma cautiously examined Ruby. The sparkly diamond on her left finger cleared up her first question before it left her mouth. Correct me if I am wrong. But wasn't it you who told me to lose your number while I lay in a hospital bed? You didn’t want to speak to me ever again. I’ve kept my end of the bargain. Why aren’t you keeping yours?” As hard as she fought, she failed to keep the tremble from her voice. Emma resume position on her bar stool without making an overt invitation. The move could have been considered a dismissal, but Ruby knew the concession when she saw it.
Not giving an inch, Ruby sat on the stool next to Emma facing her instead of the bar. She tossed back Emma’s shot. “With how your skin looks, why are you still drinking? Most corpses have better skin coloring than you do. Hey, Annie, you should be taking better care of the merchandise. Mama Bear wouldn’t be happy if you let her prized monkey overdo it.” Annie glared at her from across the bar.
Annie’s lips weren’t moving, but Emma could hear her thoughts from across the room. Never demonstrate our association.
“At least I won’t need much of a costume for Halloween.” The look coming from Ruby at that moment told her that she didn’t find the morbid humor funny. Emma gave her a half-assed apologetic shrug. “I’m on vacation after a mission that ended in an averted disaster. In a day or two, I’m going to have to get back to being a law-abiding, clean and upstanding adult for a jury of our peers. I don’t know if you remember this or not Ruby, but I’m not big on the concept of testifying in a court of law. I’m even less thrilled to be speaking against my crazy ass foster mother. Many would call it a too public death. I deserve to get shitfaced and stay that way for a few days before I have to put my big girl panties on and face my largest demon while sitting in a room full of my lesser fears. Who the fuck needs that kind of nightmare fuel?”
Emma reached for her next shot only for Ruby to grab it out of her hand and down it in the same second. “Bad news Em, vacation’s over. The Senator needs us in Washington tomorrow which means food, shower, clean clothes and then a nap on a plane.”
Her phone pinged a new message that Emma utterly ignored.
The blonde jaw dropped dramatically. “Wait you said WE. Why do WE have to fly to DC if the court case isn’t in DC?”
Ping
“Because the Senate Subcommittee on Homeland Security has a lot of questions for you. Pop your eyeballs back in your head and finish your tacos. Our plane leaves in 3 hours. I would like to be on time. The boss gets kind of bitchy when things don’t go according to plan.”
Ping
“Why do I get the feeling we are talking about Senator Mills? When did you start working for her?”
Ping
Ruby rolled her eyes. “I’ve been working for her for longer than you have. Who do you think helped them decide which handler would work best with your personality? But, then again I didn’t have to spend three months in the hospital healing up from trying to do everything by myself like a total fucktard, did I?”
Annie: Exit in 5.
Annie: Ruby has been Senator Mill’s assistant for more than a year.
Annie: Tell her to quit advertising your private agenda.
Annie: Do you people not understand that this bar is PUBLIC?
***
Breaking News
“This is Bryan St. James with today’s headlines. Today, photographs have surfaced of our newly elected mayor, Regina Mills, that depict an unsavory BDSM relationship with an as yet unidentified woman. We have spoken to an eyewitness that states that Miss Mills actually leashed and collared one of her subordinate employees while still working as a department director at Neverland Financial.”
“Reporter June Smith is outside the mayor’s office awaiting comment.”
“June can you tell us the reaction from the office? Are they shocked? Are they alarmed at these allegations?” The generic barbiesque reporter prepares to respond only to be distracted by one of the mayor’s staff.
A demure redhead stops working at her desk in full view of the camera. She laughs heartily while stacking her files.
“Ma’am can you give us a response,” June asks.
“You do remember that Miss Mills campaign promise was equality for all races, religions, and lifestyle choices. You didn't find it odd that she celebrated her win at a local fetish club with her biggest supporters. So, how could this possibly surprise you?”
“Well folks, there you have it. The mayor’s office believes this is of no concern. The only question remains, who is the mysterious blonde and why isn’t she supporting her domme?--back to you Bryan. Did I say that right? Domme. What do you mean we are still on the air? Oops. This is June Smith reporting from the mayor’s office.”
***
Annie shoved an elbow into the sleeping blonde. “Wake up. We’re in DC. You know the senator will not take kindly to us being delayed.”
“It isn’t like I caused the weather to force a change in our flight plan. We are on the correct flight. The plane took off and landed when the weather allowed. Mills can’t hold that against me.” Emma grumbled as she grabbed her business class travel case and laptop bag.
Ruby straightened her blazer before grabbing her bags, “You would be foolish enough to think that Senator Mills has time to wait on the weather or your worthless ass. Get moving. Capitol hill waits for no one. If we’re late to her office, we will miss our briefing. Do you want to face a sub-committee without a briefing?”
Annie and Ruby both stared down Emma. “Figures. You two automatically bond over forcing me to do something I’m gonna hate.”
The handler sized up her charge before turning on her heel, “Don’t forget to wear the dark suit. I don’t know how or when you did that to yourself, but that hand seeped all over your travel clothes. Mills would be pissed if you did that during the hearing.”
***
Annie directed Emma inside their government-issued housing, “The Senator had our clothes brought in already. Go shower and change while I do the same. The car will be here to take us to our briefing in 45 minutes. Use it wisely.”
Do you think Annie will ever forgive us for our inability to be punctual when you were still adjusting to life without medication?
‘I’m seriously beginning to doubt it D.’ She sat down the edge of her bed and kicked off her shoes. She practiced a few of her breathing exercises trying to wrap her head around what today would be. Her eyes took in the overly familiar hotel decor.
“Well, Fuck me.” Emma’s legs lacked strength momentarily. The suit that hung off the closet door wasn’t new. She hadn’t seen it almost two years. It was the first suit Regina bought for her. Graham had taken her to the tailor where the fabric and style had been pre-selected. The only thing about it that was new was the tie. ‘I guess mother and daughter share clothing tastes.’
Emma ran her hand over her tired face. The ticking of a wall clock reminded her enough for her fingers to begin slipping buttons from their captors. Streaking toward the shower, she allowed the hot spray to wash fatigue from her bones even though it failed to lessen the pounding in her temples or the ache from her bruises. S ooner or later we are going to cross paths with her again.
‘I’m not ready yet.’
We will never be ready.
‘ I don’t think I could walk away from her again.’
You can’t seriously think I could do better.
Knowing this conversation could go on for hours, Emma chose to drop it and concentrate on preparing herself. Senator Mills had never been antagonistic, but she wasn’t exactly warm and fuzzy either.
Emma and D celebrated the 45 minutes of stillness coming to an end. Thoughts of Regina plagued them when they donned the suit. Emma swore her scent was still on the coat from draping it across Regina’s shoulders.
Do you remember how beautiful she smiled that night we took her to see that traveling production of Kinky Boots? She was so cold until we wrapped her in the coat. Leaving us to walk to the car in a silk shirt and vest.
‘ That was the first time she let us drive the Merc.’
Stepping into the back of the waiting SUV, Ruby appeared again. Annie slipped in behind her.
“It’s good to see someone can make Emma be on time,” Annie groused.
“There’s only one woman who could do that. But that’s a subject for a different day. The hearing time has changed. Cora sent me to catch you up to speed. Senator Spencer has been removed from the committee as his ties to Ingrid have been brought to light due to some of Emma’s testimony from a year ago. But, today they are looking at the events that led up to Ingrid’s capture. I am sorry Em. But, Cora says you are to be as honest as possible, but you need to leave Regina’s name out of it if you can. Stick to first names if you have to give a name. Cora believes that this more about what D was directed to do with the servers, but as you are one of her pet projects she has not been given a list of the questions that you will be asked. Do you understand?”
“Yeah, sure. What about Annie?”
“Which brings us to the next thing. Annie, you are expected at HQ. The committee has made it clear that Emma’s handler is not welcome during the proceedings. They want to talk to her without directions or interference.”
The individual muscles on Annie’s jaw defined as she tightened the muscles. “I was specifically directed never to leave Emma alone. I will sit outside the hearing, but I will be damned before I go to HQ without her. Was that an order from Senator Mills or did that come from someone else? I would be willing to place money on that being from someone else. I could even wager a guess as to who it was.”
Ruby raised a hand to argue, but Emma could spot futility, and it became apparent that Ruby can too. It was going to be a long day.
***
The Proceedings of the Sub-Committee on Homeland Security as telecast live on C-SPAN.
Presiding today, we have as follows: Senators John Greene, Rebecca Rubanowitz, Ted Hughes, Carolyn Blackmon, Seth Allen, Drajkumar Ilahi, and Cora Mills.
“Good day everyone. I am Senator Ted Hughes, chairman of the sub-committee. As Senator Mills has been involved with our witness today as part of Project Bastion, she will be refraining from participating in the interview. She will be an active observer. As George Spencer’s Senate seat has not been filled due to the indictment on child molestation and endangerment charges has left us short one man.”
“At this time, I would like to open the proceedings by bringing up the activities in question. Eighteen months ago Miss Emma Swan was employed by Neverland Financial. She demonstrated great skill in troubleshooting a faulty interface allowing her to be on the fast track for management.”
“Before we go any further, Miss Swan, were you sworn in.”
“Yes, sir.”
“At the time of Miss Fisher’s attack on our country, first did you have access to all of Neverland’s Servers? And, was it your responsibility to do the ‘new build’ to write code and start the eight new servers at Neverland Financial?”
Emma, with a shaky hand, took a sip of her water, straightened her tie and leaned closer to the microphone. “At the time I oversaw only the servers dealing with the user interface, not the financial transaction servers. Those are housed in our building but under the supervision of CEO Hyde and Director Gold. However, after a cyber attack had been detected and neutralized, word was passed down via someone from Hyde’s office that we were to do the new build. These instructions were given verbally to my team member, Mr. Preston. I believe you know him as Special Agent Preston. But, at the time I believed him to not be on active duty.”
“You are saying that you took on the build by second-hand word of mouth.”
“Not exactly, sir.”
“Do you care to clarify for us?”
“Yes. I was agitated when I arrived as my team was not following my instructions. In fact, they were standing around in a meeting listening to the newest member give them instructions. I wasn’t happy. After my initial inquiry, I determined I needed to seek the source for clarification. I went up to Director Hyde’s office and found the person who gave the directive. I believe you refer to her as Sarah Fisher, but I always knew her as my foster mother, Ingrid. She was there in his seat. She gave me the directive at that time.”
“Didn’t you ask anyone else?”
“Who else was there to ask? Director Mills was in Europe. Director Gold had suffered a heart attack and was in ICU. Director Forest was in Chicago. Who, sir, was there left to ask? Hyde didn’t answer email or phone calls. So, I followed her orders.”
“But, you knew where Hyde was. Didn’t you?”
Emma adjusted her tie nervously and flattened it down her chest. She licked her lips and leaned forward to speak only to clear her throat and sit back again. She ran a hand across her mouth and sat forward. “Sir, I can clarify if necessary, but are you privy to my conditioning done by Ingrid while I was a teenager?”
“Miss Swan, don’t change the topic. Did you or did you not know where Director Hyde was?”
“In order to answer, I need you to answer my previous question. It will save us a lot of time and energy. Are you familiar with the phrase Dark Swan and what that really means?”
The senators gathered together at their dais. Holding a quick heated discussion, Senator Mills sat forward, lowering her glasses to the tip of her nose. “Yes, Miss Swan, they are aware of D. Now, can you please answer his questions. We do not have all day.”
“Thank you. D had contacted Director Hyde via a secure node of our internal server. She had sent him a communique from Ingrid stating that she wished Mr. Hyde to be kidnapped and then summarily executed. D provided Hyde with contact information for one of DHS black ops units. Preston had provided the information and verification when it was necessary. That is how Director Hyde and his family were relocated to a safe house in such a timely manner.”
With an incongruously derisive snort, Senator Allen began “Well, I still think this whole story is nothing, but lies.” He spouted sarcastically drawing the attention of the committee members, “Why would Fisher use Neverland? I mean how coincidental could it be that all of this would happen? Miss Swan was an intern, with little to no access to anything and everything gets handed to her in the blink of an eye? Just because Fisher is in custody doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be. For all any of us know, ‘Dark Swan’ is some fictional character you made up to carry the blame. Knowing you were going to get caught eventually you made sure that Fisher would take the fall. I am sorry, but this is all too far-fetched to believe.”
Holding her composure, Emma allowed the speculation to sink in. Well, we could show him how wrong he is. ‘We don’t have permission.’ The silence along with the 100-yard stare didn’t go unnoticed by Senator Mills. “Miss, Swan. Do you have an answer to these questions or not?” The stern tone snapped Emma out of her thoughts.
***
Kenzi brought Regina her mid-morning coffee and the mail, depositing both items on their designated spaces on the mayor's desk.
“Thank you. That will be all for now, Kenzi.”
Regina breathed in the aroma of her coffee missing the way Emma had made it. The woman barely could function first thing in the morning, but she flawless fixed Regina’s coffee without having her eyes open. ‘I need to let her go. If she wanted to speak to me, by now, my pet would have made an effort.’
Kenzi cleared her throat to gain her boss’s attention. “Um. Ma’am, I believe there is something on C-Span that you might be interested in watching this morning.”
“Really, and why is that?” Kenzi ignored the query as she turned on the flat screen tv mounted on the wall for the mayor’s use.
Her jaw dropped as she saw her former girlfriend and her mother in the middle of a congressional hearing.
“Please leave it on. Thank you, Kenzi.” She dismissed the redhead offhandedly, too interested in the proceedings.
***
“Forgive me, Senator Mills; I was just soaking in the question finding the right words.” She flicked her eyes over to Senator Allen feeling D staring the man down. “I will assume your understanding of networking, coding, hacking, even computers are subpar. However, if you look into what I have done for this country in the last year, you will realize that mine are superior to almost everyone in the world. Ingrid was clever in her planning. Almost diabolically so. Neverland Financial is a strong and well-known credit and lending company that has electronic ties to nearly every federal agency giving them passcodes and passwords to far too many of the United States government’s digital footprint. It’s new department, Banking, was the very antithesis of the rest of the company. Glitches, errors, coding issues and faulty programs plaguing the site were typical. Updates frequently occurred, often with detrimental results. Better equipment was due to roll out after routine testing. Piggybacking off the company’s servers would have raised no questions. Our constant state of flux would have hidden it well. Plus, there was a person on her radar that worked there that she wanted to bring a public downfall. However, I wasn’t meant to end up at the main branch; mother intended for me to be placed at a satellite branch giving me more cover. The involvement of R-- another person wasn’t something she had planned on either. So, while in the beginning things seemed well in hand, nothing was.”
“I still don’t hear an answer to my question, nothing more than vague comments.” He crossed his arms, “How do any of us know that you aren’t making things up?”
Looking over to Senator Mills she quietly asked for permission, but it was the subtle shaking of the woman’s head that concerned her. “Will the committee allow for a short recess? The evidence you need is on a secure server. If you would be so kind as to have a terminal and projection screen relocated here, we can clear this up.” Cora addressed her committee members with a hostile lilt to her voice. The group fell into side conversations before agreeing. With one last glance towards the blonde, the Senator followed the others into the chamber room leaving Emma baffled on what to do next. Standing from her seat, she looked back towards the exit thinking it was best to go freshen up.
Once past the double doors she felt Annie’s eyes on her but knew better than to engage in a conversation. Entering the bathroom, she met her face in the mirror inspecting the tired features. “I don’t get it, how can I prove anything if she won’t let me? She’s letting us take the fall, I just know it.”
There is a reason she wants me silent.
As if predicting it there came an unusual vibrating noise from the stall at the furthest end of the stalls. Keen on the sound she entered the stall finding a small flip-phone tucked behind the toilet. The new instincts told her who would be calling, “Genevieve Hearts, I presume there is a reason for this call?”
“You’re late for a very important date, McTwisp. 30-second window, head next door now.” With the phone in her hand, she slipped out of the bathroom, “Right.” Making a sharp turn, she entered the men’s restroom briefly eyeing her handler who seemed preoccupied with her back slightly turned to the blonde.
Pressing the phone to her ear, she surprised the bathroom’s occupant who was midstream at a urinal. “What the fuck?!” In utter shock, he quickly tucked himself back into his pants. “You have no business being in here Miss Swan, consider yourself done for after this ridiculous stunt.”
“I am sorry to have to do this to you again, but we don’t have any other options.” The tone held no empathy for the words said, “He needs to see the proof in person.”
Swallowing the swelling lump in her throat she closed her eyes and tensed her jaw, “You’re not sorry. Just do it.”
“DO WHAT!? Who are you talking to?!”
“ Dearest Darkest Monster, I need your complete attention .”
Dark emerald eyes rolled open with a cruel smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. Her demeanor shifted into an intimidating stance. Sharp features consumed the nearly stoic veneer Emma had become accustomed to wearing. “Besmirching my title with your crude tongue leaves me longing for her presence. Whatever scheme intended for my participation, note my complaint with extreme prejudice. I’m verbalizing my refusal.”
“Noted. Give Mr. Allen a good scare, and I will let you sleep.”
“Child’s play, tormenting an imbecile incapable of zipping up his fly could be overkill.” With a predatory grin, she focused her attention on the man who was standing slack-jawed. “Dispatching him would be a well-deserved mercy to this world, Gestatten Sie mir, mit ihm zu spielen.” Slowly stalking forward she watched Seth retreat backward onto the wall leaving him trapped.
“Miss Swan, I will have you locked up for the rest of your life if you dare touch me.”
“Do not play with him, give him the phone.” The older woman’s stern tone kept the monster on a short leash.
“There isn’t enough sanitizer in the world to clean my hands of your filth. Take solace in that.” Holding the phone out to the man it was clear she was restraining herself from hurting him. “I suggest listening to her.”
Tentatively he took the phone keeping his sight trained on the blonde, “Hello?” His voice quivered with the fear he tried to hide.
“Mr. Allen, consider this situation as being read into Project Bastion. After you compose yourself, you will no longer play ignorant to the monster that lurks beneath the young girl’s face. Do you understand?”
“Of course, Miss Mills. I won’t pursue the topic further.”
“Good, now hand McTwisp the phone.” His hand trembled forward.
“I detest being used like this. Nothing more than common thuggery.” Malice streamed through the receiver expressing the monster’s feelings. D was more willing to be a halfway decent person as she had come to terms with the truth of her existence. Being summoned to play enforcer felt more like an insult and a waste of her time that brought back an emptiness she wished to forget. Losing Ingrid had hurt more than she thought, it nearly rivaled the absence of her Queen. Nearly.
“ Go back to your cage .” The line dropped dead leaving a very confused Emma with Seth in a bathroom. She blinked her eyes rapidly and began doing a slow turn examining the room before her eyes caught his movements.
A very nervous Senator Seth Allen was speedily trying to put himself back together with uncoordinated movements. One look at him, she noticed his pants were unzipped and belt askew, “Oh god, please tell me we didn’t…. I didn’t.” The blonde visibly paled.
Catching where her sight had fallen, “God no, I am married.” Quickly zipping up his pants he adjusted his belt.
“Then why are you in the ladies” as the word left her mouth her surroundings finally registered. There is no urinal in the ladies. “How did I get in here?”
Senator Allen watched, aghast. Either she was an excellent actress or every word he had heard was true. He needed more evidence, but Senator Mills demonstration had far exceeded his expectations. He had believed Project Bastion to be little more than a rich, important woman playing at national security. ’God, how wrong I was.’
***
Reconvening. Senator Mills will be presenting evidence before we continue with the interview.
Senator Cora Mills walked to the center of the room between the interview table and the dais. She did a casual stroll eyeing each of the important players in the room. “First, I would like to state for the record that this recording came from Neverland Financials Security Cameras. Apparently, Mr. Hyde created a security cam to record the offices of all of his directors in his absence. I was given the recordings by Mr. Hyde. He also provided copies to DHS and the FBI. If you feel the need to authenticate the video or to ask questions of tampering, feel free to ask the experts. I am not one. Are there any questions before I play it?”
Cora turned and gave Emma a wink that sent tendrils of fear to gather around the woman’s heart. She gulped down her nervousness as the lights dimmed.
The screen came to life. Emma noted that the camera must have been hidden in the air vent near the ceiling of the north wall. Although their faces were plainly visible, the image cut off mid-thigh.
Sitting prominently in her Queen’s place was the woman who tortured Emma, but pleased the Darker side. “I wonder, did she fuck you on this desk?” Tracing her fingers over the fine finish, she stood from the chair and sauntered around the desk resting much as Regina had on their first meeting. “Come here.” Waving a come-hither index finger, she beckons her monster forward.
“In less delicate words, Emma was fucked on the desk.” Moving towards her mother with a stalking weight to her steps she placed herself in front of the woman waiting.
A hand slithered up and around her neck taking hold of the golden tresses. Deftly she slammed the dark creature’s head onto the surface of the desk, forcing D to face towards her who held no expression. “Time to make better memories.” The bite of the needle stung the scruff beneath the lining of her hair. In a matter of minutes, her body became weightless as her mind swam within the feathery light warmth. Being high stole from her the conscience that nagged at her actions leaving an obedient shell willing to serve with far less hesitation. “Let’s begin with the server programming; this is what I need…”
D resumed standing on shaky legs as the drug took effect. “Now, as I was saying. My servers need to be blended into match those of Neverland Financial. However, I need them to be able to marry, image, transfer and decode the federal database. The next presidential election is already up for sale. I need full control over the network for me to receive my payment. Now, she handed Emma a data stick this has everything you need to begin work on the project. I want daily updates.”
“Yes, mistress.” Ingrid grabbed Emma by the collar, bringing, throwing the woman down upon her knees. Twisting the collar to limit blood and oxygen supply Ingrid directed Emma’s eyes up toward her face. There was no mistaking the fear and awestruck gaze.
“I’m not your precious, disposable mistress. I’m your mother. I didn’t give you life, but I will certainly take yours and anyone that matters to you if you don’t obey. Do I make myself clear?”
Cora stopped the video at that moment. “Do we need to see more, or do you accept that Emma has an alternate ego along with an intense fear of the only person she has ever consistently had as a role model in her life?”
She took the grumblings of the people from the dais to be an ascent. Cora put the remote down in front of the chairman and resumed her seat.
***
June Smith grumbled to herself as she flipped through the various government channels. “Can’t believe one little screw up gets me thrown back down to Electronic News Gathering again. Christ, I had just gotten my first opportunity in the field and one little mis...well, hello.”
She stopped on C-Span looking at the image of a woman with a collar down on her knees looking up in fear at an older blonde. She hit the record button so that she wouldn’t lose that shot. With a few keystrokes on her laptop, a bright grin hit her face. “Gotcha.”
She tore off looking for her boss. There was no doubt to who the woman in the photograph with Mayor Mills was. She was on C-Span being interviewed. She wanted to be the first to run with this one.
***
Emma surreptitiously glanced at her watch. The proceedings were due to resume in another five minutes, but due to the stares and awkward questions that were to be had in the hallway, Emma chose to stay at the table. The committee’s questions droned on into the late afternoon when they had been repetitive and easy due to their lack of understanding of digital terrorism. Nearing hour four she had been emotionally drained as they switched from asking about the technological details, and instead chose to focus on what had happened once she was left to Ingrid’s mercy. Although Emma was thankful that they had managed to not even hint at Regina, nor her role in propping Emma up, the retelling of the days of torture in that cage sapped the remaining energy she had.
“Before we call this session to a close for today, the committee wants to thank Miss Swan for her participation and her duty to this country. You have almost single-handedly prevented a cyber attack that would have escaped notice perhaps for years. We, as a group, are very impressed with your skills and sacrifice. However, we also feel it is necessary to inform you that as of 2 am this morning, Sarah ‘Ingrid’ Fisher was found in her containment cell dead. Although the scene looks like a suicide, we are investigating to determine if ex-Senator Spencer may have caused her downfall as it was largely her records that demonstrate his unhealthy proclivities. We are sorry for your loss.” Senator Seth Allen’s attempt at sounding regretful failed miserably.
She sat dumbfounded and speechless. Blinking as she realized the room was staring at her. “Thank you for your kind words. However, I am thankful she is no longer with us. I never felt safe knowing she was alive.” Emma’s countenance betrayed the internal weakness created by the events of the day. “Can you... was her death the reason that we are having this hearing rather than me testifying at the trial?”
Senator Rubanowitz straightened her blouse and brushed her graying hair out of the way as she sat forward to speak into the microphone. “Yes. We felt it was necessary to gauge for ourselves if you were the trustworthy citizen Senator Mills has purported you to be in our meetings. With Miss Fisher out of the way, the debate as to whether we should bring charges against yourself had been put forward again by Senator Allen. I believe, as do many of the senior members of this committee that it would have been a disservice to yourself to do so. It is my understanding that you have been working for DHS and the NSA as a consultant for a little more than a year.”
Cora’s gasp, though not caught by the microphone was heard by the room. Rubanowitz and Allen together had outed Emma’s position. By bringing her abilities into the public eye, they had rendered her useless as an asset.
Senator Hughes sat forward and eyeballed his committee. The pursing of his lips, though well known in the Senate, was little seen by the world. The man was appalled. “I believe it is time for us to bring these proceedings to a close. Miss Swan, you are dismissed from this hearing. The matter of the U.S. government versus Sarah Fisher is brought to a close. Thank you for your participation.”
***
“Good morning, Kenzi. Here are the files you will need to handle the business of the day. I already signed everything that needed to be. Post its give directives where necessary. Keep Sydney out of my office.” Regina handed over a small stack of files that had color-coded swatches sticking out the edges. “Thank you for arranging my flight. Did you arrange for the hotel and my car yet?”
Kenzie gave her a beaming smile. “Yes on the flight, the hotel and car are a different matter. But, you have a place to stay and someone to help with anything you might need.”
Regina looked up from where she was exchanging the contents of her briefcase.
“Senator Midas said she was looking forward to seeing you. I had originally inquired if you could stay in her guest house as I couldn’t find a close hotel that I believed wouldn’t report your arrival to your mother. But, she wouldn’t hear of it. You are staying at her townhouse with her and little Frederick.”
Regina knew she didn’t need to ask further questions. Kenzi had proven to be a reliable assistant on her worst day. If she could see her through that, she could handle this.
Kenzi sent her a digital ticket and car details without prompting. The woman’s tongue knew when to stay guarded.
“Thank you. I will be trusting you to run the day to day of the office. Forward anything to me that you feel I need to handle personally. I need answers that only my mother can give. You know as well as I do, you can’t get what you need from her over the phone.”
Kenzi gave her a brief nod. “Senator Mills always proves to be more elusive than illuminating when I ask her for details. I would have to agree.”
Regina sighed. ‘Maybe I will find out enough to let me move on.’ She stood from her desk, but not before removing one last item from her desk. The framed candid photograph of her and Emma had been taken while dancing at one of the many benefits they had attended together; she treasured the photograph and the memory. ‘Maybe I can get answers from more than my mother.’
***
Gentle hands pushed Emma through the press corps and toward the waiting car. She could feel Annie and Ruby’s concern as it dripped from their pores. Emma hadn’t shared much of what had happened with either of them. Her past was supposed to stay there, but instead, a Senate committee felt it was necessary to share it with the whole nation. Hero or victim? Is there a difference? She knew that if she dared to meet either woman’s eye, the stark pity would finish breaking her to the pieces she was fighting hard not to fall into.
They continued their conversation. She only heard the low hum of it all. Not one single word registered. Emma’s feet carried her from the car back to her room. Without stripping out of her suit, she curled into a ball at the end of the bed and slept wishing that by some miracle she would wake to find the whole experience had been a nightmare. She pulled the collar of her coat to her nose and cried; the day’s sweat had removed her scent. Her heart broke one last time. She had nothing left of her, only memories. Again.