“Er… What’s this about a law that’s supposedly being voted on?”

In the Austin capitol building, State Representative Adam Casey stands by his secretary’s desk, fastening his tie. He looks unhappy- he hadn’t expected the legislature to be in session this late.

“My apologies. I only just got the notification,” says the secretary, a Chinese woman named Mrs. Bell. “It seems as if voting will be held today.”

“Why did nobody send me a draft?” Rep. Casey complains, tightening his tie with one jerking motion and nearly choking himself. “Er, of course that’s not your fault. Don’t take it that way.”

The phone on Mrs. Bell’s desk rings, and she picks it up at once. While she goes through her usual responses, Rep. Casey slips on his coat.

“The constituent wants to speak with you,” the receptionist says.

“Er… I suppose I can take a few minutes,” Rep. Casey relents. He takes the phone from her.

The voice on the other end belongs to Gregg Davis, who somewhat unusually has dispensed with all usual niceties. “Are you voting on a bill today regarding expanding the definition of child abuse?” he asks.

“Good evening, Mr. Davis. I believe it’s something to that effect, yes.”

“You believe?”

“To be frank, I haven’t gotten an opportunity to look over the bill yet,” Rep. Casey explains sullenly. “It’s being voted on without going through committee.”

“If what I’ve heard about the bill is true, you MUST vote against it,” he urges. “My very own livelihood and that of my family could be at stake… and the same would be the case for countless others.”

“Surely there’s nothing there that could implicate you,” Rep Casey says, frowning. “You’re an upstanding citizen.”

“Thirty seconds, sir,” Mrs. Bell chants.

“Please- you will understand what I mean when you see it,” he says hurriedly. “I can tell you are in a hurry. Just please, take into consideration how it will affect parents of gay and lesbian children who merely want the best for them.”

Rep. Casey frowns harder. Parents of gay and lesbian children?

“I will… look over everything before making a decision,” he says. “Thank you for your call.”

Rep. Casey hurriedly hangs up the phone and darts out of his office. He absentmindedly scurries to the party meeting, planning to give the committees a piece of his mind for rushing this out.

By the time he arrives, though, there’s already an uproar.

“...is too aggressive. Does he expect us all to just go along with this?” Rep. McCullough, a middle-aged female Senator from the DFW metro area, is saying. “Some of us live in swing districts, you know.”

“We can re-draw those districts if you’re really concerned,” offers Rep. Benavides of the Rio Grande valley region.

“Not until the next census. And by the time we get there, I suspect this will be a losing issue,” McCullough continues. “We must think long term about our party!”

“Trust me. The voters don’t think long-term about anything,” a Rep from the panhandle jokes, causing several others to chuckle.

“I am confused why this did not go through the proper committee process,” Rep. Casey interjects.

“Ah, I see another RINO has appeared,” a rep from the gulf coast comments snidely.

“There’s no reason to be belligerent about this,” Rep. McCullough defends. “He’s quite right, you know. This isn’t how we pass laws here in America. You lot are acting an awful lot like communist China if you ask me.” This comment is met with several groans and shaking heads.

“We should table this if we do not yet have the votes to pass it,” Rep. Benavides reasons. “Speaker?”

“We can’t dilly dally on an issue of this importance!” Speaker Lewis chides. “May I remind you that we found a human trafficking ring in our backyard?”

“I would like to at least read the bill first,” Rep. Casey protests. “I don’t even know if this bill is about human trafficking. I have heard all sorts of things!”

“Er… we really should at least give a brief recess to review the bill,” Rep. Benavides urges, looking to Speaker Lewis for support. The Speaker looks away, his expression stormy.

A pair of footsteps are heard from the hallway. The demeanor of everyone in the room shifts at once.

Governor Richard Schneider steps into the room. A man in an impeccable suit, with a square jaw, a lightly freckled face, light brown eyes that sweep the room as if to assure everyone there they are being watched, and short dirty blonde hair.

“Has the party’s caucus reached a consensus?” he asks in a low, drawling voice.

Nobody speaks up at once. After looking back and forth around the room, Rep. Benavides says, “We may need some time to look over the bill in more detail. There was a request for clarification.”

“Who requested this?” the governor asks.

“I… I did!” Rep. Casey says bravely. “I am not even aware of the contents of this bill. And I have heard strange things. What is-”

“Has anyone else failed to look over the bill?” Gov. Schneider asks.

The room is silent. Rep. Casey looks to Rep. McCullough for support, but her eyes are firmly fixed on the floor.

“Are we to back up our entire legislative agenda because a single representative was too lazy to look over a bill?” the governor asks.

“Well, it’s not… not the… I only mean…” Mr. Casey stammers, taken off guard.

“The great empires of history,” Gov. Schneider states. “The Romans. The Ottomans. The Mongols. The Persians. The British. Even the Soviets. All have fallen, or are a shadow of their former selves. What happened to them? Were they invaded and conquered by a great enemy? No. They ended not with a bang, but with a whimper, falling apart due to their failure to address internal disease. Complacency! This is what kills the largest empires, the global hegemons of yesteryear. Now we, the United States of America, are the world’s greatest republic. Yet those of you educated in history may have noticed there was a major empire I did not mention. Why omit the Chinese? Because they survived. Through dynasty after dynasty, they eventually became the terrifying communist state we know them as today. And they are nipping at our heels, determined to take the throne of the main global hegemon. They are watching us, waiting. They are ruthlessly efficient. They rule with an iron grip. They don’t take silly chances. Is the fledgeling United States of America to prevail over this ancient adversary? Or will we too fall to complacency, to this obsession with proceduralism and civility above all other values?”

He pauses for a moment, letting the silence ring for a moment. Mr. Casey scowls. All he had asked for was a couple hours to read over a bill. What is this policy that the governor is so self-serious about?

“Amen to that, Mr. Governor,” Speaker Lewis fawns.

“Let us take the floor,” Governor Schneider says simply. And without further ado, he takes his leave.

“It’s as I expected” Dad states, sighing as he hangs up the phone. “The bill has not so much as gone through committee.”

“Bastards,” Mom spits. She hurriedly grabs the TV remote and starts flitting through news channels.

She arrives at one covering the story- a pretty newscaster with bright, curly red hair, heavily freckled cheeks, round-rim glasses and warm brown eyes is inside what looks like the capitol building in Austin.

“...an extensive investigation, after an adult entertainment club in downtown Austin was found to be engaging in the illegal exploitation of children. With human trafficking becoming an increasing issue in major Texas cities such as Houston and Austin, the state government launched into action this legislation session, with a slew of bills giving increased funding to law enforcement, strengthening the state’s mandated reporter laws, and authorizing law enforcement to conduct no-knock searches of businesses suspected to be involved. There have already been dozens of raids on-”

“Yeah, yeah, we know this already!” Mom huffs impatiently. “Talk about the damn bill!”

Laying on the carpet, my eyes glaze over for a while as I simply stare at the newscaster’s cute freckles. Despite it being more common among gingers, I don’t get many freckles. I got some during marching band boot camp, but they faded pretty soon after we went back to school.

Is this our fault? This wouldn’t be happening if we hadn’t busted up that operation. Of course, there was no way in hell we weren’t getting Zoe out of there. And Zoe’s right, we couldn’t have left all those other children there. But now look at what's happening. This ratfuck government is using it as an excuse to try and get all of us. Being a Thief In The Night is a thankless job. I’m going to remember the names of every single one of these dipshit Republicans who actually votes yea so that I know to never vote for them under any circumstances once I’m of age.

In fact, why don’t we retaliate with force? Imagine us going into the Metaverse and hunting down the worst of the worst of these guys. Some of them have got to have a palace. And even if they don’t, can’t I just do that “echo” thing I did with Charlotte’s mom? I never tried to fight her in that state, because I didn’t need to, but I wonder if I could? We can enter the mind of someone. Like that one Senator Anja hates, Di Stefano. The one who allegedly abuses his daughter. We go into his mind, and beat the shit out of him. I bring him to the tip of his sword and make him beg for mercy. I tell him he’s going to… God, where do I even start? Drop all of your problematic policies and be an actual father to your daughter, I suppose? But wouldn’t he then just get voted out and replaced with some new dipshit? Okay, new plan. Let’s just nuke the Earth. We’re too far gone, there’s no point in trying to fix this. It’ll take too long. I just want us to be put out of our misery.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

…I should probably get a therapist.

“She looks genuinely incensed here,” Dad comments.

This startles me briefly, as at first I think he’s talking about me. But then I look back at the screen and notice that the ginger is interviewing someone. The graphic at the bottom reads, “State Representative Sasha Klaradoch (D-TX-111).” Klaradoch is a fierce-looking woman with long, smooth dark brown hair, green eyes, and a fancy pink jacket. Why can’t the hotties be from our district?

“...Well, Valerie, it’s certainly been a shocking day for us,” Klaradoch is saying. “LGBT rights advocates have been working tirelessly up to this point to make sure that we do not throw the baby out with the bathwater. We all agree that human trafficking is a huge issue. In fact, I co-sponsored a bipartisan bill requiring the training of all service workers in the state who deal with children in recognizing signs of child abuse and trafficking. But the governor and his party have tried inappropriately to link this trafficking to the LGBT community. There is no link- no reliable source has procured data suggesting that being abused is a major cause for later development of LGBT identities. Which makes this latest move a baffling miscalculation.”

“Allow me to speak on this as a mother for a moment,” the reporter named Valerie says. Dad is right- she seems to be struggling to maintain her professional composure. I don’t blame her. “Given that you are currently Texas’s only gay legislator, would you agree with the notion- supported by all studies on the matter- that a child who questions their identity should be treated with love and affirmation?”

“Of course,” Klaradoch states.

“Do you believe that some across the aisle disagree?”

“They are not acting in accordance with the science on this issue,” the representative states plainly.

“If one of my daughters came to me and told me that she’s asexual, or something else under the LGBT umbrella- do you believe that the response from some legislators in this body would be to have me imprisoned for the crime of still loving my daughter?”

“I believe most of the legislators in the chamber- even ones in my party- don’t know what the word ‘asexual’ means as it pertains to human beings,” she states, her lips pursed. I snicker at this. She’s probably right, but it’s not like it’s that hard of a thing to learn. How stupid are these people?

“So they’re acting on this issue without first educating themselves on it?” Valerie asks, her voice tightening into somewhat of a hiss.

“Absolutely. Without a doubt,” Klaradoch states bluntly. Her head then turns to something off screen. “I appreciate your time, but I must be going.”

“Thank you. This was reporter Valerie Marsden with your on-the-scene update. Dylan, how do you think this vote is going to go down?”

Anja: Vote hasn’t happened yet just some news personality filling time at the moment

Kevin: You sure the vote’s happening today?

Zoe: That’s what my dad said. And my parents are always in the know about these sorts of things.

Ashley: Jesus Christ, over 200 unread messages.

Nova: WHERE THE FUCK HAVE YOU BEEN

Ashley: Watching the news. I think it’s the same channel Anja’s on. Also, my dad called our local representative. Seems they’re rushing the vote on this.

Kevin: Ah, that’d explain why none of us heard about it before.

Ashley: I suppose we’re some sort of authoritarian country now.

Anja: Shenanigans like this have never been above us, don’t kid yourself

Kevin: I doubt it’ll pass. That one brunette representative they had on was tearing it to shreds.

Anja: She’s not exactly the majority opinion, repubs control both chambers

Kevin: This seems too stupid even for them, though.

Nova: prety sure that’s a oxymoron

Ashley: That’s not what oxymoron means.

Collin: 🤓

Ashley: Why is he still here?

Nova: because ur gay

Ashley: No, you are.

Anja: @Charlotte Do your parents know about what’s going on?

I can’t bring myself to respond right away. I slam my phone down onto my desk and take a deep breath. Unfortunately, it doesn’t really do anything to stop the rushing feeling of intense dread in my stomach.

I get up and barge out of my room.

Mom and Dad are both laid out on the couch, watching TV. Not the news; just some game show. They both look exhausted.

“Mom… Dad…?”

Mom blinks sleepily and then turns her head to me. “What’s the matter, CharChar?”

“Have you been… keeping up with the news today?” I ask tentatively.

“Hell with the news,” Dad says.

“There’s something scary happening…” I say nervously.

“Take a seat and tell us what’s going on,” Mom says kindly.

So I sit on the couch between them and explain what’s going on in Congress to the best of my ability. I stammer constantly, and have to constantly look back at the group chat and reference things people said there to keep my story in order. But Mom and Dad are patient with me; they listen, and look between me and each other with increasing concern.

“I’m just worried that… they’re going to try and… separate us,” I say. By this point, tears are streaming down my face. “I don’t want to lose you…”

“Charlotte,” Mom says. She hugs me close, wrapping her arms around my waist. I wait, hoping so badly that she’ll say, ‘Don’t worry. We’ll be okay. We’ll always be together.’

But she isn’t. She can’t, can she? There’s nothing any of us can do.

…Wait. There’s one thing I can do.

I wipe my eyes with the back of my hand. “I’m sorry. It’s just… it’s concerning. That’s all. I thought you guys should know about this.”

“It’s no problem,” Mom says, smiling at me sympathetically. “You can always talk to us. Let’s hope that… it never comes to that.”

“It… better not,” Dad says, shaking his head. “The three of us? You see, we’re all weirdos. For a bunch of reasons.” He scowls. “Nobody looks after the weirdos.”

“I guess we’ll just have to… look after each other then,” I say, trying to sound brave.

Dad gives me an approving nod. “Yeah,” he says simply. “Yeah.”

Governor Richard Schneider sat at a magnificent marble table, a magnificent Texas state flag to his left, an American flag to his right. Mounted on the wall across from him was a large television screen, where the results of the vote were broadcasted. He watches with a blank expression of polite interest as Rep. Benavides votes ‘aye.’ Through the windows behind him, the sky was turning dark.

Seemingly a strictly party line vote so far. Until…

“Casey?” Speaker Lewis calls out.

There’s a pause. Agonizing seconds go by.

“...Nay.”

Schneider chuckles to himself. It was no bother- they could afford to lose a single vote.

Things otherwise continued along party lines. Rep. Klaradoch says her predictable “nay” with a growl. Rep. Lucas gives his “aye” with particular enthusiasm. Rep. McCullough gives hers with trepidation.

Around the time of Robinson’s aye, it occurs to Gov. Schneider that there may truly only be one defector. He looks for Casey at his seat in the chamber. It was hard to tell through the zoomed-out camera, but Schneider thought he seemed unsure- maybe embarrassed. Was he regretting destroying his whole political career yet?

With Shackleford’s aye, the bill had enough votes to pass.

Schneider curtly stands up from his seat and closes the blinds to his windows.

He looks around the office. It is empty.

“Kierstyn?” he says softly.

At once, a woman with short, black hair, brown eyes, and a punkish attire seems to appear out of thin air. Upon realizing where she is, she falls to her knees at once, entering a formal bow. “The governor has summoned me?”

“Phase three has begun,” he says. “Status?”

“La Murga is being dealt with swiftly,” she says. “The dark lord is making his return to our state, preparing himself for the feast.”

“Never mind him. What of those former colleagues of yours?” the governor asks.

“If Lucas dares venture here to lead his mindless followers, we will be ready for him,” Kierstyn says assuredly, smirking slightly. “I quite anticipate the chance to enact my revenge at last.”

“That’s not all. What of the lady from a few weeks back?” he questions.

“Ah. Yes, her,” Kierstyn says. “I assure you, her involvement was a one-time affair. She has not so much as lifted a finger for decades, only intervening when that adoptive daughter of hers was in peril.”

“Are you playing dumb with me?” Schneider asks haughtily. “Don’t you think she and her husband may feel once again as if their direct family may be in peril?”

“Ah. That’s right. I had forgotten,” Kierstyn says apologetically. “I take it your bill has passed?”

“I plan to sign it into law this evening,” he says. “We will move with haste. Make sure that the Patel woman cooperates. If she doesn’t, kill her.”

Kierstyn nods solemnly. “With ease.”

“That is all from you. You are dismissed.”

With a final bow, Kierstyn seems to dissipate into the air. Unbothered by this, the governor returns to his desk and waits patiently for the arrival of his staff.

Dad and I watch as, sickeningly, the bill passes with the support of every Republican in the chamber, barring one- ironically, our own representative voted nay. No democrats or independents voted aye. Apparently not even the more conservative, swing-y ones could stomach this.

“This government is clearly only interested in one thing- not the safety of any children, but attacking the LGBT community,” Rep Klaradoch is saying, addressing the chamber. “For those of you who voted aye- understand that the outcome of this bill makes things worse for a lot of families out there. When children starve to death because their parents stand accused of absurd charges, or when they choose to take their own lives rather than endure the torture of their repressed existence, there will be blood on your hands.” She’s spot on, of course. But that didn’t stop half of the chamber from erupting into boos and jeers.

“What is this, a hockey game?” Dad comments disapprovingly, shaking his head.

“Hey Dad. I just wanted to, you know, throw something out there,” I say. “I’m currently dating a boy. So, for all legal intents and purposes…”

“Anja, there’s no chance things will go far enough for that,” he interrupts. “This is blatantly unconstitutional. It will be held up by courts at once.”

“I hope you're right,” I say, feeling bitter. If there’s one thing I have to knock my dad for, is that he’s way too trusting of the current system. But, I suppose he was from another time and all.

The news coverage has cut to something new- our governor, Richard Schneider, signing this abomination into law.

“In our tireless war against the human trafficking degeneracy that has infected our state and threatens our children, I have called upon Congress to pass a bill strengthening further our ability to identify abuse in our homes and schools,” he states. “Sadly, it has been shown through recent news stories that abusers will lure children in with a grooming process, in which children are fed lies harmful to their development that allow the groomer to then control aspects of that child’s identity. We have seen increasing evidence of pornographic material and destructive ideologies being proliferated to children. Now, the law has the power to recognize this grooming process and put an end to it, so that our children may be uncorrupted by these misguided actors.” With a firm stroke of the pen, he adds his signature. Faceless, off-screen people in the room break into applause.

My fists tighten. Determination flows through my veins like blood.

This is our next target. There is no pretense about that. He is unforgivable.

While we traveled through Austin, we saw a massive structure, floating in the air. I’m certain of it- that’s the capitol building. That’s him.

It feels like destiny. Nine years ago, my mom ran to defeat him. Now he is my opponent. I’m finishing the battle that my mom d-

That my mom died fighting.

“Maybe there was someone in power who didn’t want her to win,” Lily’s voice says in my head.

I pause. I look back to the television screen, to Schneider. The man who won that election.

“She could’ve won one of the reddest states in the union. But my boss was not having that. He wanted to kill her.”

My boss, Aunt Kierstyn had said.

…

She confessed that to my face. Can I deny it any longer?

My mom’s death… was because of him.

…

This truly is destiny.