I don't know why, but it made me laugh. I think it was just a long, absurd two days. That's what it had to be. I bet Mother would have called it hysteria. "You think? Let's see. I was raised in a tin can floating around other galaxies, my only human contact being with the twenty eight people on my ship and whatever life forms we stumbled on. Then I was shoved through an alien portal, hurtling through space at immeasurable speeds with no more than a thin woven metal suit of magic for an immeasurable amount of time. I was stuck in a bubble on Mars, worked like a bot, programmed much the same way, and told I had to, had to come to a planet and love it just because my Mother and Dad had a good time here years ago. Tell me, just what in that would make you think I'd be any good on camera?"
I guess I was mad. I didn't feel mad when I started speaking. It just...built. It was a day of censure, a day of me being a disappointment to people. It started with Mabel. She hated the idea of me existing. Apparently, she and her family always blamed my father for Ralph "abandoning" them. They weren't rich, and relied on Ralph's income. I didn't know this. It didn't seem to matter that Ralph was granted a stipend for them. He pointed out that they earned more with him gone than they had with him there. It didn't matter a bit to the bitter old woman. She ranted and raved, then turned on me.
I was unnatural.
I was an abomination.
I was a blight on the world and should have stayed in my little tin can far away where I couldn't "infect and infest the minds of the youth". I think that's what she said, anyway. Her children tried to hush her up. Ralph goaded her. It was like when Marlon and Lynette bicker. I guess it doesn't matter how many years they are apart. Maybe all siblings fight like that.
After Ralph said he had enough abuse, I got back to the manor to find that the meeting with the president was moved to a different location. I didn't know why. It didn't seem important at the time. Apparently he hates the Cosworths as well and flat out refused to set foot in my personal house.
"He lives in a house your grandfather built," said Christophe. He was highly offended at the slight. Personally I didn't care. The people of this planet weren't liking me very much, but I guess, in hindsight, I wasn't really liking many of them much, either. I put on a good face, though. I sat through a tense lunch. I let the president glare at me while talking to Christophe and Reginald. He even spoke with Ralph. Ralph had been, after all, a Sergeant through a "pivotal war". I never knew that. It was important to Norton, though.
"I support the military. Hell, I wish we had 'em back!" Ralph was the only one he treated nicely. It was odd to me that Ralph did not return that kindness. In fact, if I had to guess, I'd say Ralph actually hated the man. Ralph, who doesn't hate anyone. Not even his shrew of a sister. His words to her were equally as harsh as hers to us. But you could see in both their eyes that they were really happy to know the other one was alive and well.
There was none of that with Norton. The most he said was "Yes, sir." And he said it cold. Bot cold. So cold he could have been talking to a wall.
Just before the president left, he asked for a private word with me. Ralph was against it, of course. Interestingly, Christophe was also against it. He said we were running late, which we weren't. Reginald looked to Christophe quickly, then said it was "no problem".
It was a problem. I wish he knew it before I walked into that room.
The door wasn't even closed all the way before he started in. "I am the elected representative to the United Empire. My citizens put me in office. And do you know why?"
"No, sir."
"Because I look out for them. Because they know I have their best interests in heart. And do you know what that means?"
"No, sir."
"That means that I keep little punk ass space brats from screwing everything up."
My face burned. "I don't..."
"I did not tell you to speak. You are here to listen." He pointed a fat finger at me. "You should not exist. And if you do, they should never know about it. By god do you know the chaos you've stirred up already? And what the hell were you thinking telling people there's aliens out there? My holo's been buzzing non-stop."
"I was just..."
"I said don't speak!" He ran a hand through his hair. "You all have the IOC fooled. If it was up to me, you'd be back on that can zinging to Utopia and all you space freaks could make it or break it!" He made a slicing motion across his throat. "Cut off. No more handouts from us. You want the stars? Have them. Just stay off my rock!"
I couldn't help but answer that. "It's not up to you, sir."
He froze and stared at me. "No. No it's not. Not yet. But I'll get there. You don't have nearly as many supporters as you seem to think. And when the aliens start invading..."
I sighed. So that's what it was about. The fears. I listened to his barrage of insanity. I told Christophe and Reginald about it in the transport home. Ralph assured me that the president is a hypocrite. "Your family money got him in office in the first place!" Christophe was quick to make us promise we wouldn't speak against him at all. Lynette held my hand the whole ride to the studio. She hadn't even been addressed by the president at all. He didn't even acknowledge her presence.
I think that's what made me hate Norton the most.
Anyway, it had been a bad day and all of that bubbled up when Colson poked and poked. He was an irritating man. I don't know why he's so popular. He snaps at his staff. He demands, instead of asks. And I just have to say it...his shiny suit is stupid.
After I blurted it all out, I felt tired. Not better, just tired. "It's been a long day," I said, turning to Christophe. "Can we please leave?"
"Hang on," said Colson quickly. "You get that, Norm?"
The bot behind the camera nodded.
"Yes!" He smiled and jumped up. "There we go. I knew there was some life in you somewhere. All this 'yes' 'no' 'blah blah' in bot talk... I knew it had to be an act!"
"Colson, you do not have permission to air a single thing after the interview ended." Reginald swooped in.
"Reggie, babe. I can't use that utter pile he gave me and you know it."
When the cameras were off and he wasn't making an entrance, he could speak normally. That fact made me hate the guy even more.
"Don't 'Reggie, babe' me! We had a deal, Cole. I only agreed to this interview..."
"To make your space-speriment seem human. Ugh. Mission failed. You put an automaton in that chair for me." He turned to me. "Sorry, kid. But from where I was sitting you were as far from ice as flames."
"I was just..." I started.
"Now look here..." Christophe started.
"Take a minute and think," said Colson, cutting us both off. "You met Norton. He hated you, didn't he?" I looked to Christophe, but Colson wouldn't have that. "No. Don't ask your handler. You're the son of the worlds best scientists. Think for yourself on this one, kid. He hated you, didn't he?"
"Yes."
"He hates space. Hates the idea of 'aliens'." He wiggled his fingers and said "aliens" in a funny voice. I didn't know whether or not to be offended. "He's a fat ass pol. What do you expect? There's reasons he wasn't elected to the IOC."
"I didn't know you were so up on politics, Cole."
He sighed. "Reggie, I have to be up on everything. Why do you think I shoved this crap in my nose? You think it's fun? Or pleasant? Please. It's what they want. And I have to keep giving them what they want." He turned back to me. "Kid, forget Norton. He's an ass, and one that's on his way out. One more year, and there's no way he'll get another term. Not with all this crap about a new militia. He wants a war. And he'll take it with anyone, even other species."
"And that's exactly why you can't air..."
Colson sighed. "Don't you get it, Reggie? You called in a favor for this. I get it. I owe you, big time. And I'm just paying you in full. Trust me. That one nugget of honesty from his mouth is going to do big things for you. Big." He grinned and shook his head. "You're slipping, Reg. You used to be better at this. All that Martian air's frying your brain." He turned back to me and thumped me on the shoulder. "Stop with the automaton act. More of that sarcasm. Kids love it. And it wouldn't hurt you to learn a few phrases. You don't always have to talk like a scientist." He turned and left, all his bots following.