Chapter 29: Terra Gala

Maddy had spent a considerable amount of time working with Resistance Leadership to try and find a perfect location for the upcoming Terra Gala celebration. After defeating a supremely powerful galactic scourge nothing less would do. While their plan took into account almost every contingency, there were times when everything could have easily and completely fallen off the rails. Every facet had to be executed to near perfection. And yet somehow, against all odds, they succeeded. Maddy knew that the mission they had just completed was a complex, high-risk, high-reward gamble. A gamble that in the end, paid off big time.

And now, it was time to celebrate. Big time...

Everyone who was directly or indirectly involved in Frelsun Aðgerða (frel-sun-af-ger-la) joined in the celebration. The Icelandic term, which translates in English as Operation Liberation, was a nod to Earth's rich past and served as a fitting reminder of what they had just achieved. Maddy realized that a Gala, even one as spectacular as this, would never be able to remove the immeasurable pain and suffering that countless beings had absorbed over the years, decades, and centuries at the hands of merciless Zeta forces. Nevertheless, she wanted the celebration to serve as a symbolic new beginning...a powerful new day of inclusion, solidarity, and hope. As such, an occasion like this required a very special location. A setting that would be impossible for anyone to ever forget.

Maddy knew right from the start that finding such a place would be difficult. Sadly, Earth was now a scarred and scorched world. While still beautiful in many respects, it was impossible to deny the physical devastation the planet had forcibly absorbed after a century of global-scale war and occupation. In earlier, more peaceful times, the task of selecting a spectacular site for an epic event such as this would have yielded many suitable options. Today, the number of viable sites that remained on their war-torn, mid-twenty second century Earth were few and far between. Given the time of year (February), Maddy's focus was within the mid-latitude southern hemisphere. After several unsuccessful expeditions to candidate locations, a winner finally emerged.

Maddy was surprised to discover that the Victorian coastline along the southernmost tip of the Australian continent had managed to remain pristine and visually spectacular after all these years. It truly was incredible, given that Sydney and the surrounding New South Wales area had been occupied for over a century and currently lay in waste as a result of the most recent Resistance attack on the previously-controlled Zeta Compound. Rumor had it that the ETs appreciated the spectacular natural beauty associated with many sights along the Great Ocean Road that spanned the Victorian southern coastline.

Maybe that's why this region was spared?

With the days of Terran ET-occupation finally over, Maddy knew it was a question she would never have answered. Whatever the reason, it quickly became apparent that this beautiful part of the world would serve their needs perfectly. And after a detailed survey of the entire coastline, the site known as Twelve Apostles was chosen as the specific location where their Gala would be held. It was an elevated, rugged stretch of beach that also includes a collection of magnificent rock outcroppings that rose majestically from the Southern Ocean along Victoria's dramatic coastline. The location was simply spectacular...

"Just Wow..." Gus said with Sage in his arms, as he stood in awe at the nearest "Apostle" just offshore.

"It really is, isn't it?" Maddy added as she peacefully gazed at the endless train of breaking waves in the distance.

"Still, even with all this beauty, it saddens me to know how few places like this still exist..."

As the sun slowly began to disappear beyond the liquid horizon, they were mesmerized by the glistening effect it had on the surface of the Southern Ocean waters. Lost in the moment, neither had noticed the approach of Miranda Walford, who had quietly joined them a moment earlier.

"I think you nailed this location Maddy, it's simply gorgeous!" she blurted out loudly and without warning.

"What the...?" Gus uttered as he quickly turned towards the respite-ruining intruder.

"Oh, hello Miranda. It's great to see you." she replied warmly, giving Gus a "don't even" look before turning her attention to their new guest.

Miranda's husband Clyve, who wasn't far behind, was used to seeing his wife barrel into situations like a bull in a china shop.

"Honey, do you really want to give the Leader of the Free Galaxy a heart attack, not even a month into the job?" he quipped sarcastically.

"No that's ok," Gus, replied with a slight hint of annoyance. "So long as the little guy stays knocked out it's all good," he added as he continued to rock Sage in his arms.

"Hey man, that's a sweet look for you. I know it can't be as tough as running the Ministry but it definitely looks like you got the daddy diaper duty thing down," Clyve said with a deep belly laugh.

"Are you kidding me? This little guy is a handful. Running a covert government operation had nothing on this, trust me. Hell, these days? I'm just happy the Supreme Lord Chancellor Intergalactic, or whatever she goes by now, will still have me, especially after everything we have been through all these years..."

Initially, Maddy gave Gus a squinted gaze but quickly softened her look after watching him gently playing with the tip of their son's tiny nose.

She leaned over and kissed Gus's cheek without saying a word.

To which Clyve responded

"You see that, old woman? He didn't even say anything nice and he gets a kiss. When's the last time you did something like that?"

"With you or someone else?" Miranda deadpanned.

Her quick quip had everyone laughing, save for Sage who was still out cold in Gus's arms.

"Touche," Clive replied. "Now, you may not look like Maddy anymore but you're still sharp as a tack. I'll give you that much," he said with a second belly laugh.

It was clear to anyone who watched their playful ribbing that Clyve and Miranda were still in love. It was also clear to Maddy that she simply could not get past the shocking visual reality of how the couple had aged over two decades even though she had worked with both of them less than 18 months earlier orbiting the black hole. It also blew her mind that her Næsta Kynslóð colleagues were still on board that crazy ship and that for them, only a week had passed while it was over a year for her. And crazier still, it would be another three years before she would see Stanley Dial, his family, and the rest of her friends, despite only three weeks passing for everyone on Black Hole One. Despite fully understanding the physics involved, Maddy's conscious mind had a hard time accepting the leap from abstract scientific principle to undeniable real-world fact.

For the second time in a matter of minutes, Maddy was abruptly snapped back to her immediate surroundings, this time with a simple tap on her left shoulder.

Of course, Cairo being the playful teenager she was, appeared on the right side of Maddy. Predictably, Maddy looked over her left shoulder, only to find a smiling Jake who innocently pointed in the direction of the tapping culprit.

"Got you...again!" she smiled as wide as a Cheshire cat.

"That never gets old," Cairo added. "And speaking of old, you relics never seem to learn.''

"Oh, so we're old are we?" Maddy replied with a playful smile of her own.

"Yeah sort of, but we still love you," she said as she gave Maddy a full-on bear hug that was an unsaid mixture of joy and relief that their long fight was finally over. As Cairo's proceeded to hug everyone else in the group, Maddy approached Jake and pulled him aside.

"Jake, I need to talk to you," she said to him quietly.

Cairo, whose sensory capabilities were literally unparalleled, noticed the new Chairman's weak attempt at covert side communication and broke off her salutations with Miranda.

"Hey there woman, don't be messing with my man," she said as she looked over at Gus. "So you're cool with this?" she asked, maintaining a look of phony consternation.

"Oh get over yourself little one" Maddy replied with a smile. "Just because your parlor tricks pulled the wool over Quintavius' eyes and netted you a Council seat doesn't mean the rest of us can stop relying on good old-fashioned hard work."

Maddy knew that Cairo and her 195 IQ could play the silly teenage girl when she wanted to, but it didn't take much to bring out her keen intellect when the situation called for it. Within seconds, Maddy could tell that Cairo was on to her, despite the fact that she hadn't said a word.

Within seconds, Cairo pounced on Jake and proceeded to give him a big kiss on the lips as she simultaneously wrapped both arms and legs across his upper torso and midsection, respectively. Completely caught off guard, Jake initially stumbled backward as he failed to fully account for the unexpected force that just hit him.

"What the hell Cairo, are you crazy?" he asked, dumbfounded.

Somehow, Jake managed to stabilize their awkward Human acrobatics before they crashed to the sand. At this point, the spectacle that Cairo spontaneously created had their entire group and others around them wondering what the heck was going on.

Cairo heard and answered their questions before anyone had time to vocalize their thoughts.

"I am soooo proud of you!" she exclaimed. "You will make a spectacular Council representative for Earth! And with my seat, we may be the only Sektor V Council couple in recorded history!"

Jake looked even more confused than he had been previously. In a visual plea for help, he instinctively looked over at Maddy.

Maddy didn't say a word. She did however manage to smile, shake her head in the affirmative, and mouth the word "congratulations".

Jake, still looking somewhat confused, nervously smiled back, before turning his gaze back to his recently minted fiancé. As he did so, Cairo proceeded to give him a much gentler, nearly momentum-free kiss on his lips.

As she did so, applause immediately broke out, first within their immediate group but then, almost like a chain reaction, the celebration quickly spread to other small groups located all around them. Within a matter of a minute or so, literally hundreds of celebrating beings ranging from recently liberated Terran Hybrids of all kinds, purebred Humans, Rigels, Alpha Centaurians, Arcturan, and Sirran Resistance forces as well as native Zeta Sympathizers, were all cheering even though most of them had no idea whom or exactly what they were celebrating. But on this glorious, victorious day none of that mattered. No one needed a specific reason to rejoice. They were all finally free!

As the unexpected extended group celebration finally began to subside, Quintavius managed to find, and eventually join, the inner sanctum where the initial commotion originated. Somehow though, no one seemed to notice his arrival. Perhaps it was his diminutive size or the fact that everyone was still basking in the buzz-joy of the moment. Whatever the reason, he decided to use the opportunity to quietly get Maddy's attention.

"Dear, we really must leave soon," he told her as he managed to gently guide her a few feet away from the others.

"We have successfully secured the Terran surface, and both Rigel Generals along with our Arcturus peacekeepers in orbit have established stability from on high. For now, our work on Terra is complete. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same for conditions on the Outerworlds where residual instability still exists on two of the five planets. Melkaan has informed me that Sirran and AC forces could use additional resources to accelerate the stabilization process. To justify that request, however, you will need to personally visit these worlds, and only then can we formally request additional support from the Council. Unfortunately, none of this can wait."

Quintavius briefly paused as he adjusted his position to ensure that his large, dark eyes, which were very sensitive to natural Terran light, were not facing directly into the sun as he spoke to her.

"As the new Chairman," he continued, "you must not show special treatment towards your homeworld. In fact, and as you will soon learn, you will need to spend markedly less time and resources on Terra relative to other worlds in Sektor V. This is simply the new reality you will have to adjust to..."

After a brief pause, he added, "As Leader of Sektor V the fate of many will often rest in your hands, my dear, which in time, will be another reality you will grow accustomed to..."

Quintavius' words caused Maddy to flashback to an earlier time. A time when the weight of responsibility as Chancellor of Næsta Kynslóð was squarely on her shoulders. Would this truly be so different, she wondered. In many ways, serving as Sektor V Chair was a logical extension of what she had always done; selflessly protect the well-being of others. As a mother, those internal convictions had only grown stronger. With trusted help from those that surrounded her, Maddy was confident that she would be ready, willing, and able to fight for the betterment of their collective galactic future.

Quintavius could tell Maddy was in deep thought by the look on her face, but for the first time, an untrained Human had somehow managed to keep thoughts from him. Strange, he thought. Right now, however, there was little time to waste on intellectual curiosities.

"My dear we really must leave, we have transport waiting for- "

Mid-sentence, Quintavius felt a tap on his right shoulder. This time, Maddy managed to witness Cairo's antics firsthand since she was facing Quin and saw the mischievous teenager sneak up behind him and place her finger up to her lips asking for Maddy's silence as she approached. Much to Cairo's chagrin, however, the ex-Chairman looked back over his left shoulder and smiled as she tried to quickly slide to the right.

Cairo looked at him with disappointment.

"I trust that you realize I have literally lived 38 times longer than you have, little one. Sophomoric antics like that will never work on me, especially when you let your mentalics leak like that..." he said with a soft smile.

That last quip made her eyebrows jump and her eyes light up.

"No!" she said.

"Well, actually my dear, the correct answer is yes and no"

Cairo looked at him with a raised brow.

Quintavius continued.

"'Yes', you did let your intentions leak as you approached me, and 'no', you and your future husband will not be the first mating couple to simultaneously serve on the Sektor V Council.

Cairo's earlier surprise instantly morphed into a genuine smile.

"You still have it old man...but let's tap the brakes on the mating part for now, shall we?"

As Quintavius began to turn his gaze back towards Maddy, it was clear that she too was enjoying their mental game of cat and mouse. As the ex-Chairman was about to re-engage his discussion with the new Chairman, Cairo abruptly jumped in.

"Wait! Before you both leave us...and yes, you are not the only one capable of mental eavesdropping...I do have one non-sophomoric question for you," she said with a disarming smile.

"Fine, my child, what is your question?" he asked.

"The situation on Earth is stable. That much is clear and I am so glad about that. However, I am still concerned about Zeta Reticulon. The last I heard from you at the Council Meeting some time ago, was that a fair amount of civil unrest was still ongoing. After months of operations there, I have many friends on that world, as you well know. Has their situation improved?"

Quin visibly exhaled. This was a question he was happy to answer.

"Ten weeks after the 'Upheaval', as it is now known on Zeta, the civilian population has largely stabilized, especially after the six political leaders who were in hiding were discovered. It is rather unfortunate that four of those six individuals were terminated on sight. The remaining two are now in custody and facing charges of treason."

"So that's it, the 744 Ruling Elite are either dead or awaiting trial?" Cairo asked.

"Well, the precise answer to your follow-up question is complex, my dear. Yes, the whereabouts and associated fate of the 744 originally targeted at the Bi-Annual Review have been resolved, or will soon be resolved. And while there is an additional member from the Elite ruling class who is currently at large, this outcome is not surprising nor of any concern. By tradition that dates back hundreds of solar orbital cycles, one senior member of the Ruling Elite is purposefully sent off-site during the Bi-Annual Review. This practice was enacted as a security measure to counteract the fact that an inordinate amount of power was concentrated in one physical location. In fact, and unless I am mistaken, this is very similar to the 'Designated Successor' precaution enacted on Terra by several of your nations many Earth years ago. So while it is technically true that the current whereabouts of Deputy Supreme Leader Zalek Trig is currently unknown, the newly sanctioned, Civilian Zeta Security Task Force has intelligence suggesting that he is located on an archipelago in Zeta's southern hemisphere. Regardless of his exact whereabouts, I, along with Zeta authorities, am very confident that Trig will be recovered and brought to justice in short order. His biggest risk is a premature discovery by vigilante forces. If that outcome were to transpire, I'm afraid the ex-Deputy Supreme Leader is unlikely to survive for very long."

After a momentary pause, Quintavius continued...

"In any event my dear, and to answer your implied question, no, there is no longer any need for the citizens of Zeta to fear the Ruling Elite. Their elimination as a political and military threat allows us to state with confidence that this once very dark, very long, and very painful chapter in our galactic history is finally over...forever."