Ascent of Liberty

[Ascendancy]

Oliver Holden, PPC

A small measure of pride tilted Oliver's chin as he watched Nicholas take the podium. From his vantage point on the dais behind him, he couldn't see the new Secretary's expression as he spoke, but Oliver was able to discern those of the audience. Joint sessions of Congress were held in the House chamber, and Oliver was to preside over the preceedings. This joint session would be one of the great historical moments of Congress.

Just as Nicholas took the podium, Oliver's eyes darted to meet those of other officers of the House, including that of the Sergeant at Arms, and finally to the two groups clutered in their respective party lines: the republicans brimming with the majority of seats, then the democrats, and finally the few representatives of the Libertarian party. Together the House floor was packed as it would be during the State of the Union, although the floor lacked the President. A few members lobbied to invite the president to the Hill, but Oliver made sure it didn't happen. This was legislative business.

As Nicholas spoke, Oliver maintained a flat expression, except at a few notable points where he paused to clap in support of the arguments made. He nodded along to confirm the truth of federal and military invesitgation into powered individuals. All in all, the Speaker was supportive of the new Secretary - as anyone in the know would realize, it had been Oliver's recommendation Nicholas was given the job to begin with. It would be a pleasure to work with him once Oliver was President.

He clapped vigorously, rising to his feet at the end of the speech. Oliver glanced at the Vice President seated nearby. Gauging by the man's tight expression, he was none too pleased with these developments, but being the reserved and keen mind that he was, Palin couldn't afford to offend the powered base group, not without jeopardizing the flimsy support the administration clung to during these difficult days. It would be a shame that he was going to die, Palin was a good man. But Oliver could not assume the office of President without it. Sacrifices had to be made and all men must die. Memento mori

Oliver returned to his seat, ready to grab the gavel and move to dismiss, when Nicholas interrupted once again.

He invited a junior Member to the podium without so much as a nod in the Speaker's direction. Dumbfounded, Oliver watched Evelyn Avalon, D-SD, take the stage. She also pointedly averted the Speaker, and Oliver's gaze hardened to the point to make the surrounding marble walls seem soft. Aware of CSPAN cameras, he quickly smoothed his expression, but inside, he was fuming.

The girl had her own announcement. Oliver picked up on it as soon as she began describing her empathy for the powered. The realization slowly pushed the anger away, transforming it to shock. There were powered individuals in Congress! How many were there in the country? He recalled her ascent to the House. The youngest Member in history; and a woman; and a post-millennial. She utilized a social fan base to kickstart her campaign, winning the hearts of young people back to politics. Ever since arriving in DC, she had been a pain. More than the typical junior democrat.

She somehow wormed her way into the Foreign Affairs committee and serving on the CCD subcommittee when she ought to be dabbling in far more mundane matters like Agriculture; maybe Ethics - that was a good one to learn House Rules. Oliver would not have been surprised if she demanded the penthouse office in the Rayburn building simply because she liked the view!

But she was powered. He blinked his way out of the trance of thought, realizing the House had erupted. He banged the gavel and called for order. The Sergant at arms stood at attention, but Oliver did not signal him. It seemed the cacophony soon simmered into awe. Oliver saw his administration taking shape then. He knew exactly what the country needed to become. The future was bright. The future would speak of the district like the classics spoke of Camelot, reverent and idealistic. But only if the powered, these channelers as Evelyn described them, could be allowed to do what they did best. Only if modern science had access to them. Only if their abilities could be tapped and shared by all mankind.

But Oliver was running out of time. His years were past the mid-day peak, drawing to a close as the decades set on his soul. He saw the look in Dawson's eye when he spoke of controlling these channelers. Maybe he was even Atharim himself? The Di Inferi had not dealt with the group in centuries, Oliver certainly never cared about them.

Roswell Jenkins had promised that Dawson would go. Roswell was even closer to the end than Oliver; he had to sense the urgency even more. Death was coming for them all.

All men died.

But not if the di inferi had their way.