24 What is to Become of Us - Part II

12th March

Yttrium Valley, Artemis, Freehold territory

Following Frank Scuderi's declaration of lunar independence, I decided that I would attempt to stop him now before it's too late. Both of my likely allies, Huesong and Jianyang, were unresponsive. Huesong, perhaps have decided to side with Scuderi, but I'm convinced that Jianyang is under attack from Scuderi or his allies, and I've decided it's necessary to help them. Before I can, however, I'm going to have to confront Dora, and whatever message from William she has.

The two of us make our way back up the floors to my office. What could William possibly want to tell me now? If I had to guess, it would be to not take any action, and continue waiting this out to see who it will be most beneficial to support. But it's already too late. While Dora wasn't looking, I messaged the head of security, and told them to head to the Jianyang offices without waiting for me. I've already won, William. I'll beat Scuderi, and then I'll be perfectly placed to take the position of President from you. We make our way up to my office. I let Dora in first out of courtesy, then I follow her in.

As I'm turning away from her to close the door behind us, I ask, "so, what is it that William needed to tell me?"

At the same time that the door shuts, I feel something sharp in my lower back.

"Stay quiet, and go sit at your desk, slowly," I hear Dora's voice say from behind me.

"What?"

I feel a sting as something, presumably a knife, slices into my back at an angle, just below my ribcage. I scream out in pain. The knife feels impossibly deep. I should be dead. Surely, I should be dead. It all happens before I can realise, but I'm sitting in my office chair, looking at the monitor. I'm vaguely aware that the knife in my back has been removed, but there's another one at my throat. In front of me, I can see my account being logged into, but I'm not controlling it. Dora, is she controlling it? No, her left hand is holding the knife at my throat, and her right hand is firmly gripping my shoulder. It must be remote. Who? Who is it that Dora is working for? Is she working for Scuderi?

Whoever is controlling the monitor successfully logs onto my account, and after a brief few seconds of black screen, William Fort's face appears, staring at me.

"Charles," my name, is all he says. He has a displeased look in his eyes.

"William?" I reply, shocked to see him, "what is this? Why are you doing this?"

With the adrenaline running through my blood, and pounding in my head, the four-second delay feels like an entire minute.

"Because you went against my orders. I suppose it's really my fault though. I always knew you would, I just hoped that maybe I was wrong about you. Even so, I sent Dora to watch you, just in case. I'm really sorry that it had to end like this."

"Why? If you think Frank Scuderi is trustworthy and respectable, then you're wrong. You're making the biggest mistake in the history of the Fort family!"

For whatever reason, William laughed, "I can trust Frank Scuderi because he's untrustworthy. I see now that he's the lowest kind of person, but that's exactly why he'll win. Because he's willing to do what no one else will. And besides, he gave us a pretty good deal, until you betrayed me."

"What?"

"A hand and influence in setting up the government, and a heavy role in the future colonisation of Mars... I doubt he'll be as generous after this, you absolute fool."

Influence in his government, and some involvement in the colonisation of Mars? That's what Scuderi was willing to offer us? Is that really worth this? Does he really think if he makes the moon independent, he'll just be given Mars? No, of course not. No matter what he offers it doesn't change anything, because his plans are impossible: lunar independence is impossible in the present. It's impossible. He'll always be far too reliant on Earth. Far too close to the Earth for this to be successful. William is the fool, but why can't he see it? God damnit! All my efforts were for nothing. William takes my silence as the end of the conversation, "if that's all, then this is over."

"Wait! I can still..." I can't focus with the adrenaline, the blood... so much red everywhere, "the security... Jianyang..."

"Oh, don't worry about that Charles," William smiled, "I've been monitoring your phone for years. I called your head of security, and called off your rescue mission already. This is goodbye, Charles."

The call ends, and the screen goes black. Wait! Something else... there must be something else for me to say. Some way to get out of this.

"It seems that I'll be your replacement, Mr Fort. Thanks for all your work until now."

I'm vaguely aware that someone, probably Dora, is talking to me, but I can't make out what they're saying. Something moves in the corner of my vision. My neck feels warm and sticky and wet. Maybe I should have a shower after this. No, I suppose I won't be able to have a shower.

I guess I'll never see my children again either. Beautiful Mia, and handsome Richard. I'd hoped that they would come up to the moon when they were older, but I don't know if that will happen anymore. I wonder when the last time I talked to them was. It must've been weeks... maybe months. I wasn't a very good parent to them. I regret that now. But, what I regret most is underestimating Dora Qemali. I was completely wrong about her. She's very cunning, smart, and capable. That bitch.