December 2028

When Mark Parker and Rebecca Lewis left their house that early morning, they knew they weren’t coming back. Still, they acted toward Katryn, their fateful housekeeper of years, and everyone else, including Mary and Thomas, their most trusted friends, as if they were going to South America to attend the fundraiser they organized.

Truthfully, their flight was headed there, only as a means of distraction for another flight to take them to Eurasia. This one with fake identities. It was all set.

They boarded the commercial flight in Chile, sat on their economy seats, and turned off their phones for take-off. It was mid-flight when their video started going around the United States of America.

“Hello, my name is Mark Parker,” the video plays on every channel and social media, with automatic subtitles and a human figure translating it to sign language.

“And I’m Rebecca Lewis. You may recognize us from the videos we made a few weeks ago, begging the terrorist movement to set our daughter, Abigail, free.”

“We are also known for our charity work, especially when it concerns deviants.” Mark smiles.

“But what you may not know is that for the past 25 years now, we have lied, cheated, and manipulated you all. Our fellow citizens.” Rebecca faces the camera.

“We have backed up politicians through illegal means. Spread misinformation online. Paid for smear campaigns. The goal was to elect representatives, including the president, who truly cared about deviants' interests.”

“We knew the change we needed for our daughter would not be achieved in her lifetime unless we acted. Lobbying legally would’ve taken too long. Change rarely comes willingly.”

“The same techniques are now being used on the other side. In November, a record of anti-deviant representatives were elected. You may think ‘this is my will, this is what I want’, but we can assure you that you have been played into wanting it. We’d know. We have done the playing before.”

“And in the process, we were played ourselves!” Rebecca looks at Mark. He nods, and she continues. “The Institute received through our foundation millions every year. We thought that it was used there. But as it turns out, it wasn’t.”

“It was used in a secret lab that abducts deviants, some as young as four years old. A lab that tortures them. A lab that develops weapons to use against deviants. The ones used during the Institute massacre. Which was an inside job.” Mark shakes his head.

“Exactly. We believe that the assassination of the President on the Day of Peace was an inside job as well. Done by the same people.”

“Now you may think, ‘why would I care that some rich folk’s money is being used to torture deviants? I’m human and deviants shouldn’t exist?’ The point is exactly that. This division is a distraction. The lack of empathy for your fellow citizens, just because they have a gene, has been orchestrated.”

“They are playing all of you. No decision is truly yours, truly democratic. And if this doesn’t scare you, if it doesn’t tell you what will come for you soon enough when deviants aren’t around anymore. It should.”

“Let’s name the names, so you can kick them out of their power. Who’s behind all of this, Rebecca?”

“The newly reelected POTUS!” Her voice doesn’t shake.

“The president of the Institute!” Mark smiles.

“Emily Roberts’s parents!” Rebecca remembers all the moments they shared.

“The owners of Ortiz Hotels!”

“Saif Ahktar and Edward Hall!”

“Trust nothing that comes from them. That’s our advice.”

The transmission ends and soon enough, the topic trends throughout the world on social media.

Several conspiracy theories pop up immediately. That the Parkers work for Rachel Moore. That it’s actually her and Diego in disguise. That the Parkers are alien lizards trying to destabilize the government for their impending invasion. That the President of the United States of America cut off the public funding of the Parkers and they are just trying to get her out of the office.

***

For once, the President of the United States of America arrives on time to the emergency meeting of the Council.

“Thomas… I can’t even express my disappointment right now. You always said the Parkers were easily fooled. ‘Rich enough to skip brain development’. That’s the expression you used to describe Rebecca Lewis,” Edward closes his eyes and puts his hands on his forehead.

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“Sir, we will initiate immediately a character assassination. We have already lined up several interviews with business partners and supposedly friends of the Parkers that will state their mental issues and pedophilia,” Jessica Miller asks her advisor for the papers.

“Work on it, Jessica. I want every search online to show first that they are pedophiles. Flood the results with it. Do we know where they are?” Edward asks.

“They never made it to the fundraiser in Chile. Our guess, Eurasia,” Laurence says.

“Guess? Is that the best you can do?!” Edward shouts.

“Their children are in Brussels. Follow the children and you’ll find them,” Thomas says.

“Luckily, we have enough support to prevent an actual investigation on the Congress. It won’t pass. But, Edward, enough of this incompetence,” the President says.

“Madam president, I can assure you this will be resolved easily… we’ll do the character assassination, we’ll find them and we’ll kill them,” Edward’s tone iced the room.

“In Eurasia, sir?” Laurence asks.

“Wherever they are. We’ll kill them,” Edward says.

Padma looks around the room, noticing everyone’s expressions. The one she focuses on is Thomas’. The Parkers are, supposedly, his best friends. For over 30 years. Padma recalls the conversations she had with Rebecca Lewis. Rebecca shared how close she was with Mary Roberts, even though having deviant daughters was the only thing they had in common. ‘Friendships form from shared values, Padma,” she remembers Rebecca saying.

Edward ends the meeting and Padma goes to Marianne’s hotel room to have dinner together.

“Marianne…” she looks over the city while Marianne hangs up after ordering room service, “I can’t let them die.”

“Who?” Marianne approaches the girl.

“Mr. and Mrs. Parker … I can’t have their blood on my hands.”

“Have I missed out on something? Since when you have a personal relationship with the Parkers?”

“I don’t. Back in 2019, they wanted their daughter to stop using her ability. They talked to Ahktar, and he installed the technology in their house-”

What? Marianne sits in front of Padma.

“All approved by Edward Hall, of course. I stayed with them during those months. Monitoring the technology mostly.”

“And now you feel what…? That you own them something?” Early 2020, Saif appointed you as his advisor. Fired the one before. Was this the reason? Did he feel like he could trust you more?

“She was kind to me, Marianne. She was, even though she didn't have to be.” Padma sighs.

“It is heartwarming that trillionaires are human too.”

“I should find a way to… warn them.” Padma’s voice breaks.

“Padma, we keep having this conversation. I keep having to remind you. And I do it because I care about you, and I’d never forgive myself if something happened to you.”

“Marianne… my conscience won’t take it much longer.” She covers her eyes with her hands.

“Conscience… moral… wrong and right. Now, tell me, Padma. Why should you be the one suffering from the consequences of the Parkers’ actions?” Marianne removes gently Padma’s hands. “Did you force them to betray their country? Did you make them manipulate elections and guarantee their results? Did you?” she holds Padma’s chin, forcing her to meet her eyes. “I thought so too,” she releases Padma’s and leaves her hand on her cheek, “they made their decisions, and in the process made their enemies. I do not feel sorry for them. For one sole reason, they have the means to grab their children and leave this mess.”

“But-”

“They could’ve left when their daughter tested positive. Or when their promising results didn’t come through. They chose to stay. Despite having the means to leave for Eurasia.”

“That doesn’t mean we should sit back and let them die, Marianne!” Padma raises her voice.

“Padma…” Marianne takes a deep breath. “If with all their possessions and connections, because we do know, that Eurasia is on their side… If Edward finds and kills them, do you honestly believe that anything that you do now will make a difference? We should stick to our irrelevance.”

“How can you be so…” Padma stops.

“Go ahead.” Marianne’s tone remains calm.

Heartless. Padma faces her. “Apathetic.”

“I’m over sixty, Padma. I have lived through pain and made it alive on the other side. You are still young, and I say this without any condescension. You either learn to be stoic and you keep your emotions controlled, or you won’t make it in this world. Especially with your gene. The world isn't designed for individuals like you. You have to make your own path, and such a path comes with hard, but right, choices.”

***

Outside of Madeleine Clark’s estate, journalists camp and wait for her to arrive. Her driver isn’t stopping until she orders him so and steps out of the vehicle.

“Miss Clark! What can you tell us about the accusations that the Parkers made against you?!”

“Miss Clark! Are you part of a laboratory that abducts deviants?!”

Madeleine laughs hard and raises her hands.

“Everyone, a moment please. I’m more than happy to answer all your questions.”

They all listen to her in silence.

“I think the Parkers have clearly lost it…”

Madeleine Clark says ‘The Parkers lost it’ shows on the footnote on the news.

“I mean, we can all agree that the abduction of their daughter probably cracked the straw in the camel’s back. My sincere hope is that they find the help they so clearly need.” Marianne crosses her hands on her chest.

“Miss Clark! Is Clark Industries founding an illegal operation?”

“Please.” Madeleine laughs again. “Clark Industries has a spotless record. One we have shared with every stakeholder. We are a public company. I won’t take any accusation from the Parkers seriously. And neither should anyone else. I mean… The Parkers are well known for their gun trading, gun supporting of terrorists across the world, all for the highest bidder. Several schemes of tax evasion. Are these the people that are supposed to accuse me of anything?”

“This secret lab apparently tortures deviants. Care to comment?”

“The only lab that I indirectly participate in is the one of the Institute. We don’t torture any deviants there. It’s wild to accuse me of such a thing when I work every day to ensure that deviants have the highest possible quality of life in our country.”

“Do you have a personal relationship with the others named in the video?”

“Saif Ahktar heads the laboratory at the Institute. Ortiz Hotels are our sponsors. Edward Hall, I crossed paths with in some fundraisers. The Roberts, I know them personally. That’s it.”

“And the assassination of the former president? The massacre at the Institute?”

“Both were acts of terrorism. One lead by Rachel Moore and the other by another deviant terrorist group. As the president of the Institute, I have to make sure our students aren’t preyed by these groups. Én Nagoyan showed me that we have to be on high alert. They convince them of the unthinkable!”

“Why are they accusing you?”

“Your guess is as good as mine. A nervous breakdown. Perhaps a distraction from any ongoing investigation that’d reveal a scandal involving them. Who knows? I wish them the best. I won’t pursue them in court. Obviously.”

Madeleine smiles as she turns around. Her smile disappears. She enters her car again and they drive off.