Hey everyone! I want to say thank you so much for everybody that has been reading this series and commenting, even while I was away for a while. Things just got busy with work and school and life in general, and I had a bit of writer's block too. I'm sorry about that, but seeing that people were still reading my stories motivated me to push through and continue the story. I wasn't going to just leave y'all hanging! Thanks for the support again, and I hope you enjoy this chapter!
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"So, how's the boy been doing?"
"Still a smartass." The General replied.
"Oh good, so absolutely nothing has changed then." Marshall replied while laughing the best he could.
"And even better, he's President, Marshall."
"Well, everything must be going to shit then." All three of them laughed.
The project was a success, up to this point. A few years ago, when Marshall, the Society's inaugural President, became sick, Fran and Jack, his lieutenants and closest confidants at the time, thought of a plan to save him, realizing that there would be inevitable change in the Society's structure if he died and was lost forever.
Their plan was Operation Cryo, a mission that would require patience, time, intellect, and a little bit of luck. It was conceived by the three of them, as Marshall rested on his last days, too sick to make public appearances anymore. There was cryogenic technology on the Society, as maintenance teams brought on pods from Earth that were prototypes at the time. However, no one had ever seen a cryogenic pod succeed before, and the test results had proven less than stellar at best. Their chances seemed slim, but all three agreed that it was worth a try, because the reward would be well worth the risk.
Their plan was simple, but complex: preserve Marshall's body in the cryogenic pod right as he approached his end, and keep it a secret from everyone except Fran and the General. The first part was difficult enough, because they had to make sure that they took the body and were careful with it. Damage to the body during its journey to the pod could impact Marshall's revival.
Also, one of the challenges was convincing everyone that Marshall was dead, when in reality they were waiting until everyone left the funeral ceremonies and transporting his body to the pod, under the guise of disposing of his dead body. Fran and the General also had to learn about the pod's capabilities and its functions, and store his body properly. They didn't know nearly as much as the scientists and mechanics on the space station, but they couldn't risk anyone else knowing their plan. They spent endless nights reading and experimenting with the pod, making sure they understood its schematics and intricacies.
According to the trials, these cryogenic pods were not only supposed to preserve the person's exterior, but also heal them internally of any illnesses or diseases that previously ailed them. It was a slow process, and not a perfect process, but if there was a chance that Marshall's mysterious illness would be healed when they woke him, they had to go for it. And now he was awoken, and the next part of the plan could begin...
"How do you feel Marshall?" Fran asked. She and the General had been there for hours, checking his vitals and the pod's performance. Even though it was great to hear their mentor's voice again, they were worried that it would be short-lived.
"Ah, like shit, but alive."
"We're worried about you, are you sure you're going to be okay?" Fran said.
"His vitals seem okay, but they're still stabilizing. His body's gone through an incredible change." The General added.
"I'm fine Jack, Fran. I'm not going anywhere. It's just going to take some time for me to get back on my feet." Marshall coughed and coughed.
"Back on your feet? You can barely speak, old man." The General said.
"Well I said it would take some damn time, but I'll be back."
"Of course, Marshall. I still can't believe it worked, we just did this on a whim." Fran said.
"Well I know you didn't think I would go out that easily, did you?"
"Of course not." Fran smiled, though still worried about her mentor and leader.
"So, what do you want to know? A lot has changed in the time since you been taking a nap."
"Well, everything. I need to know everything that's been happening since I left. The Society's guiding principles are stability and order, and from what you two are telling me, there's been a few changes. I only hope my son hasn't fucked everything up too quickly."
"Marshall, Ethan closed the termination chambers..." The General said, holding his head down and shaking it in disgust.
"What? What do you mean, shut them down?"
"He's closed them, Marshall. He started the process last week, and there's no one being brought down there for punishment, interrogation, or anything anymore. And what's worse, he told everyone about them too. He gave a press conference where he explained everything, the violence that occurred down there, the methods, the reasoning. Everything, to all the citizens of the Society. It's caused a fervor." Fran said.
Marshall stood silent, unable to process what he just heard. The termination chambers were his creation, a way to maintain order and crush opposition who refused to comply with the new regime. They were especially important during the Society's transition period, where the rich and spoiled were overthrown by the strict and ruthless. In his eyes, it was a key pillar of the Society's longevity, and Ethan, his son, just closed them, dismantling that pillar.
"And what does he plan on doing instead? What's going to replace the Society's guiding pillar, one of its foundations?"
"He's planning on implementing an entirely new enforcement system, total clean out, top to bottom. None of the rules will be the same, and the punishments will be far less severe, as he says during our meetings." The General replied.
"Does he know nothing about the Society's history? Letting these people off easy is exactly how those immature fucks almost ran it into the ground in the first place! It's preposterous, how could he just up and-
Marshall began coughing and heaving once again.
"Marshall, I know it's a lot to take in at once, but you have to try to calm down. You're still recovering." Fran pleaded.
"Okay, I know, but what is he thinking?"
"In his eyes, the termination chambers and the Society's strict and harsh punishments are exactly what's wrong with us right now. He feels that its antiquated thinking, and needs to be replaced with new ways of thinking."
"That's exactly why I didn't trust that boy. I thought that you and I would change the boy, Jack. I know he was resistant, but I thought we could change him, make him think how we think."
"At the end of the day, Marshall, he's younger than us, and he's always been a rebellious smart ass. I've tried countless times to talk to him, but all he does is respond the same way, with jokes and threats." The General replied.
Marshall sighed. "So, what the fuck else is going wrong?"
