Are you implying that the Uprising starts next year in story?
@Tantomile What do you do if Paradox has an enemy (who is,arguably,worse than her)?
@Tantomile What do you do if Paradox has an enemy (who is,arguably,worse than her)?
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The Paradox has forced history to take a different path this time around. The date, place, and reason the Uprising starts have all been changed.
**Author's note: There has never been a cycle in which the Levakians enter the Shroud. They cannot even comprehend or understand the idea of a god-like extradimensional being such as the one pursuing the Paradox.Tantomile said:
Why not,Paradox?Why not?It’s not like you’re in the Shroud.
@ToaMami What would be your first action if you get elected??
@ToaMami What would be your first action if you get elected??
Remember Akira's end goal. Somehow, the Levakian's failure to complete Psionic Ascension is crucial to creating the "ideal future" Akira wants.
Toa Wahine Mami Tamihana said:
Wait,then who gets the End of the Cycle out of the Shroud in Chapter 6?You’re going to make a Partogan Psionic,aren’t you?
Of course,it isn’t.Or is it?You don’t know if I’ve posted what I really think yet…
But the End of the Cycle is in Chapter 6,right?
Very true...
I can't answer that question without giving away the entire ending. Same goes for the questions: "Is Mami/Eteka/Tantomile/Rapati/Arahu/Ango/The Paradox in Chapter 6?"
What about Paradox’s companions?Can’t you also not answer that question?Or *sigh*the Gifted lions on Asalele...
It’s getting late here…so I’ll just wait for the next chapter tomorrow…
It’s getting late here…so I’ll just wait for the next chapter tomorrow…
Part of that I can answer: No. None of the Paradox's companions will appear in Chapter 6.
Be well, see you later. I hope Chapter 3.6 is as entertaining for you to read as it was for me to write.
Chapter 3.6: Influence
Chapter 3.6
Influence
September 22, 1928 A.D.
The National Assembly, Partoga City, Partogan Homeworld
Toa Mami wasn’t really aware of what was happening on the television screen anymore. The full reality of the situation was slowly starting to sink in for her. Amaya and Enutanga had both lost. It was just herself and Irirangi now. There was a one-in-three chance that Toa Mami could be elected Queen. Was this really happening!?
Both of the remaining Candidates sat down again and listened to the broadcast from the National Assembly. Once again, the 52 members of the body had taken to chaotically yelling at one another while the Kuhina Nui called for order in vain.
“Does politics always sound like that?” Irirangi wondered aloud. “Maybe I’ll hire someone to yell at those guys to shut up. You want the job, Mami?”
Toa Mami didn’t answer. She had turned back to the screen and was watching Enutanga being escorted off-stage.
“Where’d they go?” she asked, “Enutanga and Amaya?”
Irirangi got out of her chair and pressed her finger to the upper-right corner of the screen.
“They’re up in the gallery.” she said. “See? They get to watch the rest of the Election in person with their families.”
She gave Toa Mami a mournful look.
“I’m really sorry you’ve gotta watch the next part from this place. Tell you what, Mami. Years from now, if anyone asks ‘where you were when I became Queen’ you tell them you were in the gallery with Enutanga and Amaya. I’ll back you up, alright?”
Toa Mami gave Irirangi a short glance, then looked back at the TV.
“You’re really confident about this, huh?”
“Me being Queen just makes sense.” Irirangi’s eyes got kinda misty when she said that. “This is how it’s supposed to be.”
On the screen, Kuhina Nui Ranginui was struggling to get control of the National Assembly. All seven of the Levakian Kings were standing side by side and roaring at the Partogan Supremacists, showing their teeth and raising their hackles. The Partogan supremacists had grouped together and were shouting back at the lions while Princess Aku Mihaka stood between the two hostile groups, trying to break up the fight before it started. Toa Mami strained her ears and turned up the TV’s volume to try and hear what was being said. Unfortunately, nearly 50 voices overlapped with one another and all words were drowned out.
Toa Mami couldn’t help but feel slightly disgusted. She expected the National Assembly to be a dignified body of professional politicians, but this was getting absurd. How was the government supposed to get anything done if they spent most of their time yelling and fighting?
Finally, after some fifteen minutes of chaos, shouting, and roaring, the cacophony died down. The members of the National Assembly had simply grown tired of arguing. Up in the gallery, spectators were unsatisfied with this result. Some Levakians booed and yelled all sorts of vile insults at the Partogans, while Partogans in the crowed turned to start up fresh arguments with the Levakians.
Kuhina Nui Ranginui never gave this fresh outburst of hostility the chance to spiral into something worse. Holding a microphone up to his mouth, the Kuhina Nui’s voice blared out of half-a-dozen speakers all around the room and overpowered everyone else.
“DECORUM! THERE WILL BE DECORUM! THE NEXT PERSON TO DISRUPT PROCEEDINGS WILL BE HELD IN CONTEMPT OF THE ASSEMBLY AND ARRESTED!!”
About two dozen Green Guards filtered into the gallery and started to break up fights. Finally, about twenty minutes after Enutanga’s defeat, order was finally restored to the National Assembly. Up on the podium, Kuhina Nui Ranginui looked like he was ready to punch someone. A furious expression overtook him as he said;
“If there are no further discussions or motions on the floor. I will entertain a motion to advance the Royal Election to the Third Round. Is there such a motion at this time?”
Prince Hokianga Ranginui stood up.
“I move to advance the Royal Election to Round Three!” he said loudly.
“SECONDED!” yelled several others.
Toa Mami pulled her eyes away from the television and looked at Irirangi.
“Well, I guess this is it.” she reached out a hand, “Good luck.”
Irirangi shook Toa Mami’s hand gently.
“I won’t need it. Thanks anyway, Mami. I won’t forget you. This time tomorrow, you’ll know all of the benefits of being friends with me, my brother, and our family.”
Knock knock knock.
“Irirangi!” a voice came from the other side of the conference room door.
“Coming!” Irirangi said loudly.
She gave Toa Mami a quick hug, then skipped excitedly to the door. Once more, Toa Mami spotted the news reporters and camera crews in the hallway as Irirangi stepped out to meet her destiny. Curiously, at the same moment she stepped out, a Partogan man in his late 20’s entered the conference room and quietly shut the door behind him. The entry had been so sudden, so unexpected, that Toa Mami just stared at him for a moment, completely dumbfounded.
“Uh... who are you?” she asked.
The strange man wore a green tunic with a complex pattern of silver embroidery, the typical uniform of Church Acolytes. He extended an arm and shook Toa Mami’s hand without hesitation.
“I’m Acolyte Kaatau Wirihana.” he said, “I’ve brought you a message from His Holiness Whiro Ranginui.”
The Acolyte spoke in a flat, monotone voice and had a completely expressionless face. His eyes seemed to be dead in their sockets, glassy and devoid of a certain kind of light.
The Acolyte held up a slip of paper to Toa Mami.
“The Holy Father insists you read it and respond as quickly as possible.” Kaatau droned, “He says time is of the essence.”
Toa Mami’s mind went blank. Why the hell was the Holy Father sending her a message when his own family member was moments away from being voted on!? Her hands trembling, Toa Mami took the paper from Kaatau’s hand and unfurled it. The Holy Father’s handwriting was untidy and bold-faced, yet was surprisingly legible for someone who was writing in a hurry:
Toa Wahine Mami,
Over the past half-hour, it has become abundantly clear to myself and my allies that Irirangi does not have enough votes to win.
Neither do you.
The defeat of all four Candidates will destroy the integrity of the Government and erode public faith in our institutions. It may cause civil unrest and lead to the downfall of Partogan society. This can only end in chaos and it cannot come to pass.
It is too late for me to save my Great Niece. There is, however, enough time for me to save you.
I can use my political influence to GUARANTEE your VICTORY. You will become Queen today.
In return you will do the following: Immediately after your 15th birthday, you will marry my Great-Nephew Arahu in a public ceremony and join the Ranginui Family, taking our family name as your own.
I know you will see this as a great price to pay, but the power, prestige, and honor of becoming Queen will far outweigh the small but noble sacrifice I ask of you now.
Please respond quickly. The faster you act, the more votes I can secure for you.
Do not allow four centuries of Partogan tradition to die today. Please, I beg you to accept my offer. You will become a pillar of strength and unity for all people to have faith in.
Whiro Ranginui
Toa Mami looked up from the note. Her throat had gone dry, and her whole body was shaking. She moved her mouth, but no words came out. Behind her, Toa Mami could hear the sound of Irirangi’s voice coming from the television, but her words seemed distant and pointless. Finally, Toa Mami began to feel something rising within her... a feeling... a sense... a thought.
It was revulsion.
She was repulsed by the Holy Father. How dare he try to exploit Toa Mami like this!?
She was repulsed by the way he’d gone about it. He’d took aim at her knowing full well what was going to happen to his own Great Niece!
She was repulsed by the very thought of his offer. She had never liked Arahu that way! The thought of being his wife nearly made Toa Mami sick!
Acolyte Kaatau put a hand on her shoulder.
“The Holy Father said that speed was of the essence.” he said without any urgency. “What is your response?”
When Toa Mami spoke, she felt bile rising up the back of her throat.
“No. I won’t do it. I’ll win the throne on my own.”
Toa Mami knew from the past month of lobbying members of the National Assembly that she already had 25 votes, guaranteed. She just needed to win over two more voters with her speech following Irirangi’s defeat. She could do that with her speech, Toa Mami knew it! And if she failed...
Well, if Toa Mami lost the election, then the Government would have to go to the list of backup Candidates the Kuhina Nui had mentioned... and Toa Mami would go down in history as the last girl to fall in the “most unsuccessful Royal Election” ever. And she would be just fine with that.
As soon as Acolyte Kaatau left the room, Toa Mami said to herself.
“I’m better off free and defeated than victorious and enslaved... right?”
No one answered. Toa Mami was all alone now, and the conference room seemed to be really huge all of a sudden. The empty chairs once occupied by Irirangi, Enutanga, and Amaya suddenly seemed foreboding. So did her own chair. Toa Mami paced up and down the room, trying to rehearse her speech in her head one last time, but she kept getting distracted by Irirangi’s voice as it flowed out of the television.
“Our cause is just and righteous!” Irirangi addressed the National Assembly. “And we are closer than ever to defeating the Hiigarans and restoring the Taiidan Empire! I will bring us that victory and secure Partoga’s place among the stars as a Superpower!”
In the gallery above the National Assembly, Toa Mami spotted Acolyte Kaatau rejoin Whiro and whisper into his ear. The Church Patriarch suddenly began to look extremely angry. She knew why, and she didn’t care.
I don’t need you. Toa Mami thought. Win or lose, you aren’t going to buy me out.
Irirangi was finishing her speech.
“Thank you all for listening to me!” she said, “And I look forward to leading Partoga into a new era as your thirteenth Queen!”
As the National Assembly applauded her, Irirangi politely stood aside and allowed her grandfather to return to the podium.
“Thank you, Irirangi.” he said, “Are there any motions on the floor before we proceed?”
Prince Hokianga Ranginui raised his hand.
“Sir, I motion for a roll call vote!”
Everyone gasped at once! In the conference room, Toa Mami felt her heart drop like a stone. She knew what it meant for Prince Hokianga to demand a roll call vote. She had learned about this political tactic from Xenonian News’ coverage of the weeks leading up to this moment:
In the Partogan National Assembly, a roll call vote was an extremely rare event. It only happened if the person demanding it was absolutely certain that their side was going to win. It was a way to identify and single out the (doomed) opposition.
Toa Mami slumped back into her seat. So, this was how the Election was going to end.
The Holy Father’s offer was meaningless now... Irirangi had just won.
How appropriate.
The last election had ended the exact same way. Supporters of the girl who became Queen Marie had known they were going to win, so they called for a roll call vote, forcing all of Marie’s future political opponents to identify themselves in front of her. As a result, many of her would-be opponents had changed their votes at the last second, joining the ranks of her supporters and saving themselves along the way.
Something similar was about to happen now.
Kuhina Nui Ranginui picked up an attendance sheet from the podium.
“Very well.” he said. “A motion is on the floor to conduct the Third Round of the Royal Election by roll call vote. All those in favor say ‘aye!’”
“AYE!” yelled 52 voices.
“Those opposed, say ‘nay.’”
Silence.
Toa Mami leaned forward in her chair and began to bite her nails. The tension was palpable now.
“As Kuhina Nui of the Kingdom of Partoga,” the Kuhina Nui said, “I ask this Assembly: ‘Should Irirangi Ranginui become Queen of Partoga?' When I call your name, you will answer with ‘Yes,’ ‘No,’ or ‘Abstain.’ Any questions? No? Then let’s get started. Prince Tahiwahi Ahipene!”
“No!” Prince Tahiwahi shouted.
“Prince Tamaho Apanui!” the Kuhina Nui called out,
“No!” the Prince replied,
“Prince Urutu Eketone!”
“Yes!”
“Prince Rongo Eketone!”
“No!”
“Prince Hangakore Hakiwai”
“Yes!”
“Princess Anahera Hato!”
“Yes!”
“Prince Apirata Herekotukutuku!”
“Yes!”
“Prince Nikau Himona!”
“No!”
“Prince Hamiora Kaihau!”
“Yes!”
“Prince Hamiora Kainga!”
“Yes!”
“Princess Haratua Kirikiri!”
“No!”
“Princess Omaka Kopunui!”
“Yes!”
“Princess Makoro Mangakahia!”
“No!”
“Princess Aku Mihaka!”
“No!”
“Princess Maata Mihaka!”
“No!”
“Princess Rakina Mihaka!”
“No!”
“Prince Tapu Mihaka!”
“No!”
“Prince Wiremu Mihaka!”
“No!”
“Princess Panoti Nahi!”
“Yes!”
“Prince Wiremu Ngakaho!”
“Yes!”
“Prince Tangaroa Nopera!”
“Yes!”
“Prince Taunui Okeroa!”
“Yes!”
“Princess Hakina Patariki!”
“No!”
“Princess Iria Patariki!”
“Yes!”
“Prince Rongo Patariki!”
“No!”
“Princess Rona Pewairangi!”
“No!”
“Prince Amonga Puketapu!”
“No!”
“Princess Uruanga Rakinui!”
“Yes!”
“Princess Taiko Ranginui!”
“Yes!”
“Prince Hokianga Ranginui!”
“Yes!”
“Prince Maro Ranginui!”
“Yes!”
“Princess Mikaere Ranginui!”
“Yes!”
“Prince Heriko Reke!”
“No!”
“Prince Kingi Taimana!”
“Yes!”
“Prince Hokianga Taneti!”
“No!”
“Princess Hana Tukino!”
“No!”
“Prince Akuhata Tunui!”
“Yes!”
“Princess Aronui Waaka!”
“Yes!”
“Princess Mokihi Waikerepuru!”
“No!”
“Princess Paiti Weepu!”
“Yes!”
“Prince Kauri Whiu!”
“Yes!”
“Prince Taaura Wihongi!”
“Yes!”
“Princess Taki Wirihana!”
“Yes!”
“Prince Temuera Wirihana!”
“Yes!”
“Prince Ketekiri Wirihana!”
“Yes!”
A terrible silence had fallen across the Partogan Capital. Both the National Assembly and its audience held their breath. Outside the building millions of spectators held very still and quiet, desperate to hear the last seven votes. In the conference room, Toa Mami was now standing mere inches away from the television screen, her hands pressed together, beads of sweat forming on her forehead.
Irirangi had 26 votes.
If she got one more, she would become Queen.
The fate of Irirangi, Toa Mami, and all of Partoga now hung by thread. It all came down to the seven Levakian Kings.
A month ago, Tantomile had promised to stop them from supporting any of Toa Mami’s opponents. So far, it looked as though the white lioness had been successful. Not a single Levakian vote had been cast for Amaya or Enutanga. But this was where the rubber met the road. Everything could end right here and now... Irirangi only needed one more vote...
The seven Levakians seemed to know that the eyes of the entire Kingdom rested upon them. Admetus, Emerdon, and their fellows held themselves up with pride. Sitting up in a sphinxlike pose, the seven lions were ready to make history.
Kuhina Nui Ranginui was visibly trembling as he took the final roll call votes:
“King Admetus!”
“No!”
“King Emerdon!”
“No!”
“King Manasaka!”
“No!”
“King Raduan!”
“No!”
“King Shinkansen!”
“No!”
“King Taranis!”
“No!”
What was King Tumeric, the ruler of Asalele, thinking about when his name was called? His name was the very last one on the roll call sheet, so there would have been a point just before now when he realized that the entire Election was going to come down to his vote. Did he recall his conversation with Tantomile? Did he take one last second to weigh the pros and cons of allowing Irirangi to be Queen? Did he worry about how his fellow Levakians would react to his vote? Or did he feel such intense hatred for the people that dominated and oppressed the Levakians for so long that he simply spoke in the negative because he knew it would cause the greatest harm?
We will never know why ... but we do know how King Tumeric chose to vote when his name was called. In the National Assembly, throughout the capital, and across the entire Kingdom of Partoga, an uproar of unimaginable scale erupted. It was as though all of Partoga was screaming, caught up in a conflagration of intense emotions...
Just like the 14-year-old girl in the conference room was screaming, as she too realized the final results of the roll call vote.
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There was never anyone before with zero votes. Has there ever been a tie before? If mentinoed I forgot it.
Well played for drama.
Well played for drama.
Glad you enjoyed the drama! That scene was an absolute nightmare to put together!
This was the first ever tie in Partogan Electoral history. Sadly, 50% of the vote is not 50% plus 1, which is what's required to win. Therefore, Irirangi lost.
That was great...Mami is the last candidate left.
That denial was great,but could come back to bite her...
@ToaMami what do you weigh your chances as now?
That denial was great,but could come back to bite her...
@ToaMami what do you weigh your chances as now?
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