Felix took a breath and looked around at the audience. “The answer to that one is more to do with making sure that businesses aren’t segregated, or treated differently. A shop that specifically caters to Ogres or Trolls could and should be opened anywhere they wish.”
“And is that how it is in your communist state known as Legion? Everyone is the same in the eyes of Felix?” Dave asked, the disdain practically dripping from his lips.
“Everyone is indeed equal in Legion. There are no benefits given for being any race. No preferential treatment of any sort. It’s a meritocracy, and everything is earned,” Felix said immediately. “Legion pays salaries to all of its people, we subsidize all of their living expenses, and offer them the ability to shop at Legion owned stores. We don’t require it… but it’s certainly hard to beat our prices. I shop there myself. The price on white bread is outstanding.”
That got a chuckle from the audience.
Felix grinned and looked to the moderators. “Next question please. I’m delighted to address our state tonight. Though, I really do worry about those rules. Invitation remains open, of course.”
Chapter 17 - Understanding -
By and large, Felix was pretty happy with the outcome of the debate. He’d successfully turned it into the Felix Campbell and Legion show. Their points and platform were obvious, and defined.
He’d even managed to set himself up as a rival for the lead contender for what he’d consider his opposition party. When it came down to it, being the rival of the lead contender to a party almost always gave you more credibility.
Other than feeling worn out, Felix felt successful.
Staring out the window, he could only wonder what would be coming next.
Other than that interview tonight.
Or the Email!
Felix sat back in his seat in the back of the sedan. Reaching to the side he opened up his messenger bag and pulled out the tablet that Andrea had purchased and set up for him.
He didn’t want to try and read the email on his phone, he imagined this might be a rather lengthy email.
Tapping the device on, entering his password, and navigating to the email interface, he found her email. It was marked as important, filed to the “read me” section Andrea had set up, and unread.
Opening it, Felix began to read.
Hi Felix,
Among your many questions, the predominant one was why didn’t I try to escape from the guild. The answer to that is… well I want to say it’s complicated, but it’s not.
I was being selfish. Selfish and not very understanding of you.
Or Legion.
I felt like as Augur, with my powers, I could have done so much good for the world. But only because of all the changes you made to me. Only because you made my life so much easier. That you fixed what was wrong with me.
For all of the good I’ve done in Legion, and the community, I felt like I could do more as a hero. And I selfishly wished to go back to that life, despite everything that had happened.
Then you were there. Fighting your way through a base filled with super heroes to get me. To take me back from what you believed was forced captivity.
I didn’t know what to do with myself, except that I knew I didn’t want you to die. So I involved myself at that point.
As for how I was able to act… the crown didn’t work on me. If I had to guess, either your ownership of me, or the slave magic, were too much for the crown to overcome. It was just a really heavy hat.
I’d imagine that it doesn’t work for anyone in your employ, under contract, or slavery. Your power might simply be too strong.
For everything that happened after that… it was too hard to talk about. To discuss. To try and work things out with you, because I couldn’t see a way through it.
Then you opened your mind to me. Let me see everything from your point of view.
You were right. I couldn’t function without being able to see behind the curtain. Not everything is so easy for the non-telepathic. But you cut right to the heart of it and solved it.
For me.
And the only thing I saw in your mind, was everything that you’d been telling me.
Minus the shower thoughts.
I’m unsure of how to express this, so I’ll say it directly.
I’ll never be Augur again. But that’s by choice. Augur ceased to exist when she was turned into a corpse and sold. And I’m comfortable with that. She wasn’t very fun to be.
Who am I now is different.
I’m Kit.
I’m Legion.
I’m one of many.
I’m yours.
Felix closed the email and frowned. She didn’t answer all of his questions.
But she did answer the one he actually needed an answer to.
He needed to get the crowns out to Tilen and do some tests. Have a test study and do some variable elimination to determine what it worked on, and didn’t work on. Knowledge like this would be ideal to plan how to handle whoever it was that was making these things. If there was no fear of the crowns, then it was a trump card to hold on to.
There was no hiding the warm and fuzzy feeling he felt bubbling up in his chest. Kit had definitely put to rest any concerns he had with that email.
Everything she said made sense for her personality as well. He found no fault with it, or her logic. He imagined that many might have made a similar choice in her position.
Chauffeur Andrea opened the driver’s door and stepped in.
“Hi dear!” she said, looking at him in the rear-view mirror with a wide smile.
“Hello,” Felix said, grinning. “Are we all set?”
“Nn! Victoria and Miu were going over some preparations for your interview later with Lily,” she said. She adjusted her mirror and then went through a systems check for the car.
Chauffeur Andrea took her responsibility seriously. He hadn’t been driven by anyone else since the Andrea-net went active.
Andrea Prime opened the rear driver’s side door and slid in next to him. At the same time, Miu did the same on the right.
At first she seemed hesitant, having to be so close to him. She met his eyes and he gave her a small nod to her unasked question. Her lips twitched, and she pressed her shoulder, leg, and knee up to his, getting in close to him.
Victoria opened the front passenger door and got in and gave him a glance, then a hooded look for Miu.
“Vicky lost!” Chauffeur Andrea said from the front. “So Miu gets to sit next to you.”
For his part, Felix only shrugged.
“Ready to go?” Andrea Prime asked.
“Let’s hit the road. If possible I’d love to use the restroom and get a bite to eat before the interview,” Felix said, nodding his head. “One never knows what’s going to be thrown at you. Best done with a meal and a restroom break.”
Chauffeur Andrea said something into the microphone on her lapel and then eased the car out into the road.
Felix smiled politely and waited for the next question.
“—brings us to your life. Your family specifically. How about you tell us about them?” asked Charles. He was an older man with brown hair fading to white. His brown eyes were soft, and the way he dressed matched a statesman’s air.