A New Lymoca

  The first to stand up and form a line, and group, to vote were the majority among the political parliamentary parties groups, the LV, NSH, and the small coalition of polies. There was a screen behind Supreme Ministers' backs, showing the results of the voting, as well as the previous vote. The SCJ's voting ended as null, with the opposition, and 'new' opposition showing their vote against absolving the President.

  39 senators stood up and voted, with most of the current senators belonging to LV and then NSH, while those few small polies, ‘new’ in the National Civilian Resistance coalition, adding in the numbers.

  Each senator gave their name and political party, with some overly staying at the podium to speak of their decision, and why even the senators in National Front should vote for the ‘right side of history’.

  That was until their podium went mute. This wasn’t the congress, where they could bullshit and use any fraction of a second to turn it into 10 times more just to keep talking and remain important. It went mostly smoothly, with few wasting time in this situation.

  Then, the turn of the National Front came, with 8 votes showing they were in favor of absolving the President. It was a diminutive number, but they weren’t embarrassed.

  After the NF parliament group voted their unimportant number, it was the neutral parties’ turn. Before anyone from their side could, however, senator Ol’ Pak, who had abstained before, stood up and directly voted a resounding ‘no’.

  She didn’t make it past the introduction of her speech before she was cut off. The senator probably thought she was an exception, as she had been before, but the Supreme Justice Minister was obviously not in any mood.

  But it didn’t matter. While the SCJ seemed to fail, there was still the senate, which was already in the bag, as anyone with the ability to count could see.

  But then, a person who was of utmost importance despite the minimal influence he and ‘his person’ carried in the congress, the senate/high chamber, but held valid significance in the neutrals’ hearts stood up. Sebastián Lara walked to the podium and looked at the people. He only dared to look once at the Supreme Justice Minister a bit before casting his vote.

  Suddenly, of 40 against and 8 for, it went up 1 number. It wasn’t voting against, but in favor of the President’s absolution. The courtroom went silent, with Vanessa, who was as silent as a rock, looking up to her left, where the neutral senators went into whispering turmoil.

  She frowned but did nothing, only becoming more pensive, although she was only supervising in the cameras’ eyes.

  Sebastián Lara walked back to his seat, trying to find Clara amidst the deputies in the left stands, which wasn’t difficult, as many turned to her once he cast his vote. Sebastián nodded to her, sitting back where he belongs with a slightly sweating body.

  But then, Gracial Feks, another of the senators who is vastly respected in the senate chamber, stood up and walked to the podium. The opposition, who were frowning, looked at the neutrals with confused eyes, which then locked onto Feks’s bodies.

  The senator walked to the podium, stopped, and took a breath before exclaiming. “I am senator Gracial Feks, a neutral congressman, and a Ly. Through the years, I’ve known the thoughts everyone has for me, and the most recent evolution in Lymoca’s governance. I hereby can say…”

  The right stands watched with rapt attention, holding their breaths, hoping for the best. Gracial Feks looked at the President in the middle before glancing to the other side, at the vice president. “I follow the will of the people, as those 79.1% showed just yesterday, officially.”

  The votes in favor increased to 10, showing the courtroom something to feel shocked about. Even the NF’s parliamentary group in the senate felt surprised, with the neutrals growing deadly silent. The first neutral senator to stand up after those two walked to the podium soon after.

  The votes had become higher, with the senators in the opposition, the always there and new, throwing daggers with their eye at the neutrals. The latter continued standing up, walking to the podium as 10 became 11, then 12 votes in favor, and it had only just begun.

  All of Lymoca watched as the neutrals walked, who either had some drama going on or were as pure and clean as the nearly nonexistent snow in Lymoca. The results rapidly went to match the votes against, with the opposition gritting their teeth. It neared until it was 40 against and 59 for.

  The revelation came when the last person to vote, the senate president, walked to the podium and looked at the opposition. Omar Preon was the decisive vote, and it couldn’t be any better. The opposition still waited for the vote, and once again, they held their breath, this time fearfully.

  “Let’s welcome the chance Lymoca is demanding now more than ever,” Omar Preon commented before casting his vote. It was 60 to 40 votes, 60% in favor to absolve, partially, the President of his charges.

  “There will be order in this court,” Vanessa calmly echoed after a light tap. It couldn’t be heard well in the right stands, but the left stands became noisy, clapping and cheering at the resolution.

  It was only the partial, first half of the absolution of their President, but things were already in motion. With the senators already casting their votes, the neutrals’ small groups and circles were only left with a choice, but things were still going according to procedures.

  “The resolution of the senate’s voting is 60% in favor and 40% against. Therefore, the senate’s vote will follow the procedures to let the Chamber of Deputies vote with the decisiveness to decide the outcome of this trial. Deputies of the nation, you may now begin the voting.”

  After Vanessa’s declaration, the opposition stood up first. When those who walked in front of the NF and neutral parties, they showed terrible faces, ‘facing off’ the others to change their votes. It was a lost cause. A desperate, unnecessary and childish endeavor, but it happened anyhow.

  The votes commenced, with dozens of deputies in the Chamber of Deputies voting against the absolution. This time, 2 thirds of the deputies must vote in favor to validate the previous partial absolution, and turn this trial into the release of the President’s charges.

  Rapidly, 50 deputies voted against, forming a bit more than half the opposition in the Chamber of Deputies. Little by little, the votes amounted to 90, with the last 9 slowly walking to the podium, fearful of the glares their very own parties threw at them, as if to remind them to vote against.

  Finally, the NF’s turn arrived, with all the opposing deputies voting beforehand. About 18 deputies voted in favor, showing their strong stance in the voting. At last, when the turn of the neutrals arrived, Clara Metelti was the very first, with nobody else daring to be first before her.

  There was no suspense. With a smile, she cast her vote in favor as well. She looked at the President and Supreme Justice Minister before smiling at Lesly, turning around to her seat.

  Next were Aron Mades and Nayeli Saf, who unhesitatingly voted in favor. 21 votes in favor were given birth, also rising the rest of the deputies, who formed a line and rapidly cast their votes, balancing the majority back to in favor as it happened with the senate.

  Once again, the opposition felt the desperation they did before. They had thought that, with deputies, the difference would be clearer, and they should be able to threaten and convince at east 2 more outside their parliamentary groups, but it didn’t seem the case anymore.

  Slowly, the deputies voted 200 in favor, with yet again the president of the chamber left to decide the outcome of the vote and the trial this time. Who was the President of the Chamber of Deputies? Benito Metelti.

  When he walked out of his seat, waiting for the others to finish their slightly long process with the media growing restless. The president of the deputies became the reflection in every retina, everywhere in Lymoca.

  Standing before the podium, he looked at Lesly for several minutes, changing it to Luis before giving the opposition, a fat woman in specific, a brief glance before glancing once again at Luis. “How confident are you in finding out the culprit of Linda's murderers?”

  “I already am capable of successfully investigating it, but with my seat in the government, there will be justice for my mentor as it should be, sir.” Luis replied fatly. Benito nodded before casting his vote, letting a ‘thundering’ 201 appear behind the Supreme Ministers’ back.

  “Order!” Vanessa tapped her desk before the left stands could stand up and clap again. President Luis Heartez breathed sharply in and let it all out directly. His heart beat fast, and his feet felt heavier than ever. The trial might have been fast, but the deciding moments felt too intense.

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  He looked at Lesly and suddenly felt like yelling he loved her out loud, letting the entire world know, which he obviously wouldn’t do. Luis looked at the front, his head a bit low, before lifting his head with a slow pace.

  “The trial has taken place legitimately, with 3 voting groups outside the executive branch voting with the judicial branch’s indecision, the senate’s majority’s in favor of absolving the President of his charges. At last, the Chamber of Deputies has voted with the greater majority, fully absolving the President of his charges and the trial with the resolution in favor to absolve the accused. This session has been lifted!”

  Paaaam~!

  Vanessa strongly tapped her desktop before being the first in the entire courtroom to step out of her seat and head to the exit, walking down the stairs to below the center. Only Jennifer Paws and Javier Laran followed her quickly, with Vanessa leaving without a word as the rest of the Supreme Court Ministers remained on their seats, wordless and helpless.

  “Congratulations, sir.” A guard walked to Luis and helped him by uncuffing him. Luis looked at the man’s face and smiled politely, nodding a bit. “I feel honored. Thanks for taking them off.”

  Luis then looked to the left, where he saw Lesly glance towards him while getting out of her seat and appearing a little hurried to move. Luis followed her movements, following her to the exit while ignoring his daughter, who pouted, crossed her arms, and lifted her eyebrows a bit.

  Luis and Lesly reunited at the end of the glass walls, where Lesly nearly jumped into his arms, her shoes a little above the floor level. He hugged her tight, drawing so much attention that they did not care about. Then, they looked at each other, made curves out of their narrowing eyes and contortions with their lips, and smiled while bursting in laughter.

  When Fox was walking by, Luis looked at him and said in a good mood, “Oh, Fox! Stay for a celebration soon around the precinct. It’ll be in 2 weeks.”

  “Should I not get ready and study more before departing?” Fox lowered his head, not nodding nor denying, but wanting to deny multiple times over. Luis smirked a bit, with his arm around Lesly’s shoulders as they faced him and Nala, “It’ll be worth it. You never heard the hymn, right? Not even on the internet. It’ll be a good, first time, as most Lys experience it.”

  “Alright…” Fox felt his sleeve tugged. He looked a little down at Nala and saw her natural expression before looking back at the President. “Okay, we’ll be there.”

  … Meanwhile, in the corridors of the SCJ building, while Lymoca and even the public servants everywhere in the building silently celebrated to not be caught, forcing angry expressions when they suddenly saw the Supreme Justice Minister.

  “Vanessa, wait!” Javier Laran shouted moderately, rushing past Jennifer Paws to painfully slap his feet on the floor to a stop. Vanessa slowly came to a halt when Jennifer stood beside Javier, and her a couple of meters before them.

  She slowly turned around, facing them as Javier spoke out, feeling awful. “I’m sorry that happened, and I know I’ve betrayed like maybe no one else in the world has before. Jennifer is a great kid with potential, so unleash it all on me.”

  “I’ll return the money you already gave me, but please don’t go looking for more contact with those people.” Javier added, imploring as he reached out with a hand, but it wasn’t necessary.

  The image of Vanessa’s furious eyes, hurting expression, and hearing her trembling words wasn’t there; none of them. Instead, a calm, actually gladdened, and relaxed expression on her face, Vanessa looked at them with her eyebrows dancing above her azure eyes. “You did, didn’t you? You betrayed. Why did you betray me? You two are the only ones I ever took care of.”

  “…” - “…” Neither could answer that, they just couldn’t find themselves able to do it. Vanessa didn’t seem to mind, as she carried on instead of them. “Isn’t it because I was derailed too far to notice the difference? I pushed all Supreme Ministers, including the only two I cared about, and have been going against Lymoca and Lys alike all this while.”

  Vanessa’s eyes became worried, and her expressions a little saddened. “I have been used by ‘them’. Yes, and I was using them for money… But I forgot to do the part my heart asked me every day before this seat. Instead, I have been waiting for ‘another job’. It’s been hard on you.”

  “For warning me,” Vanessa looked at Javier, lowering her eyebrows, relaxed and slightly arched. She stared at Jennifer Paws next, “For not wanting to follow a doomed role model.”

  Vanessa looked at both, her eyes turning a little troubled as she swung her head, looking more vulnerable with each phrase and pause. “I haven’t paid attention to you, my surroundings, or… Sigh… In the end, it was only now I could see myself not getting any further distanced from the goals I once set myself to achieve. And how. I have insulted your work, but I ask you now. Will you forgive me… and follow me?”

  “Yeah,” Javier chuckled in his words, smiling as he added, “We can also start seeking protection with the government… There is this something about some of their guards that always puts me off and makes me feel they’re dangerous… It’ll be nice to have them as our protectors instead of watching us with those eyes, don’t you think?”

  Javier kindly elbowed Jennifer, who smiled and nodded, “Yeah. It’s a bit something, hehe… There’s also Fox. I know vice president Lesly said he isn’t to be feared… But what he is capable of— I never want to make him an enemy. Right, Supreme Justice?”

  “Mhm…” Vanessa looked into the void, slightly losing herself. She couldn’t tell them that one of the reasons she wanted to stop playing on this side, and more so realizing when she wasn’t having an easy time and would have to ‘play politics’ from now on; was Fox.

  “Let’s go. I will deal with everything. We should have something to eat before I do some visiting to… the long, extended seat in the country.” Vanessa held her forehead, feeling she’d grow hotter any minute now, before turning around.

  This time, the other two stood beside her, walking along her towards her office, not wanting to leave the building just yet. They chatted with her, only having to turn their heads to do so, and walked through the corridors in a way they hadn’t for over a year. Feeling at ease.

  . . .

  Time passed. Just 2 days later, while Fox was in his suite’s bedroom in the early evening with the sun just coming down.

  After the 9th month, with the elections confirmed, Fox’s business grew a ton. Especially with the marches which brought many people around Proteros City, and thus, curious to visit his boutique and even his new restaurant. That was only sudden gains, but popularity increase would stay.

  While his businesses were on the way to the initial completion he ascertained respectively for each of them, he had his days of ‘luxury’ and repassing some knowledge and teachings Esmeralda Heartez imparted him.

  Currently, though…

  “Ah, wait… you should stop… I can’t right now… You must slow down, Foxy… eeeek…” Nala went bitch mode. Her knees harshly caving into the mattress with her back bent, her stomach pressing towards her thighs as Fox’s hips smoothly greeted and bid farewell to the tunnel, over and over again.

  Suddenly, Fox’s phone sounded, just as he had his usual stupid face when being at his limit with his woman. He picked it up, stopping as the culmination of their daily union for the late day period ended. Nala’s whimpers sounded into the mattress as she shook from the lower regions of her most wonderful derriere to every hair strand at the top of her head.

  Then, after they both had a breather, and laid on the bed together, with a slumping Nala, he picked the call.

  “President?” Fox felt kitten Nala rest her head on his shoulder, smooching his skin countless times as the call was picked up. From the other side, in a rather noisy but cozy restaurant, Luis’s voice sounded. “Why don’t you come to have a meeting? It’s rather… unique this time.”

  “Oh… I see… I will be there in 15 minutes… where?” Fox looked at Nala, who closed her eyes and kissed above his left chest before kissing the back of his left hand and palm before getting comfy with her head resting on the pillow.

  “Mhm, I’ll be there.” Fox nodded after hearing the address, hanging up without consideration. He then looked at the masterpiece of the heavens, the universe, and the reason of existence lying beside him. Fox adored the sight for a few more minutes before standing up for a quick wash up in the shower.

  After the trial, Fox’s business had become more notoriously popular, attracting more clientele than even during the marches. He even had to prepare a program to hire more general employees for speeding the service and get more delivery employees, expanding the first 9th Order Restaurant, and enlarging the overall earnings it could generate for next month.

  This would leave the first 9th restaurant and the rest of the food chain unavailable to make lots of money until the end of the year, while the first 9th restaurant would still make the new money it is making now.

  … After the quick shower, Fox took his Myertha, which Nala has already had the honor to been given a ride on, and ride. He arrived at a local, bustling restaurant, where he saw Vanessa and Luis waiting for him for the third time. Only, this was much different than before.

  Vanessa wore a casual dress, but she still looked blatantly beautiful in it like it was a wonder of the fashion world. Luis, on the other hand, wore a common suit, letting the lady appear more striking. Fox tilted his head before crossing through the open doors to the inside.

  He walked with the people enjoying their food, and families with their children cheering up. “Ey~! CSS has arrived, hua hua!” - “Welcome! Enjoy your meal!” - “Hurrah for Lymoca!” - “Hua hua!”

  Fox blinked a few times. He at the small table on Luis’s left and Vanessa’s right again. He looked at the menu firs things first, since this was, and clearly so, a different meeting than before.

  It wasn’t political, or between the branches of the nation. It wasn’t before a face-off between their branches, nor a ‘warning’ to try keeping most of the situation stable, regardless of any result. This was a simple meeting, something new. One where they’d just… spend time?

  Fox felt Vanessa’s azure eyes on him, but he focused on the menu and decided on what and how many things he’d order before returning the glance. “About the chocolate from earlier, I still dream about it. I wish to have some more before departing.”

  Vanessa blinked, further opening her eyes as she heard those words before thinly smiling. “Well, I also wanted to see you before you left, since we’ll have busy schedules from now on.”

  “Oh, then… I guess we’re eating lightly here?” Fox arched his eyebrows upwards and voiced. Vanessa nodded. Fox then turned to Luis, who had a lackadaisical expression, but how could he dare to? Fox imaginatively shook his head before asking with a raise of his right eyebrow, “You told her of what… I will be doing next?”

  “Well, she kept asking, and I wouldn’t get a rest otherwise, so she knows.” Luis tilted his head a little, barely bothering to put up a front and excuse. Fox returned his gaze to Vanessa, who smiled, feeling comfort. This was new, and her mouth looked well-marked by her smile, beautiful.

  “Don’t blame him.” Vanessa softly spat, making Luis widen his eyes. Fox blinked twice, seeing Vanessa’s face. She added, “As the president, besides things he’s already working on, there are new things to consider. You even have to go away to light some of that weight, no?”

  “Hmm…” Fox hummed, slowly nodding before looking at the incoming waiter.

  …