No Master Plan Here (Madness Runs in the Family) (24 page)

             
“-sident Chambers has temporarily stepped down from his position after a check for mental control returned positive for tampering until the extent of the tampering could be determined,” said the blond anchorwoman, shaking her head in disbelief. “Speaker of the House Logan Perry has assumed the office after being cleared as untouched by mind control. Speaker Perry had this to say.”

             
The image changed to an elderly man with a shaved head. He brushed at his black suit, trying to straighten out an imaginary crease until an aide whispered in his ear. He eyed the camera with barely concealed contempt.

             
“People of America, you have been deceived. Your elected president was put in place through deceit and is in fact a wanted criminal. He has corrupted an unknown amount of members of the governing body. This could have gone undiscovered for years if not for the actions of the criminal Anansi and his compatriots, who as of yet remain unidentified. While Vice President Chambers undergoes investigation to determine the extent of his corruption, I will be performing as Acting President, and my first act will be to pardon Jacob Redpath, known as Anansi, of his crimes and reinstate his American citizenship.”

             
Anansi watched in disbelief as the congressman signed a paper, holding it up for the reporters to see. Denise punched his shoulder, a wide grin on her face. “See? You're a free man.”

             
“I have a feeling I owe someone for this, now,” Anansi said, ignoring as the acting president was bombarded with questions from the reporters. Denise grabbed the remote and turned off the television. She tossed the remote from the bed.

             
“Why? Why does everything have to have hidden strings?” she said as she rolled onto her side, draping one arm over his chest. She gazed into his eyes. Anansi felt his fears melting away. “Enjoy the moment for once in your life, you worry-wart.”

             
“I'll try,” Anansi said, pulling Denise in for a kiss. “Are you going to let people know you're not dead?”

             
“And give up my complete freedom of responsibility?” she said and laughed. “I'll tell them next week, when we've had a vacation.” She kissed him, and Anansi felt desire building within him. He decided to enjoy the moment.

-~-~-

              Kay cut the feed from Anansi's quarters as he and Denise began engaging in lovemaking. She felt Anansi's end of the neural link silence, cutting her off from his mind. That was fine. She was busy, anyways. She shifted her attention back to the chat room.

             
[KT3.141592653: They are fine. Jake came out unscathed. He was in top form today.]

             
[TKRTPK: Good to hear. Will you lot be around for Thanksgiving this year?]

             
[KT3.141592653: Likely. Jake owes my chassis flesh, which we will be working on, but I will likely be attending as myself instead of a mental tag-along this year.]

             
[TKRTPK: Nice. I look forward to meeting the brains behind the operation.]

             
[KT3.141592653: Between the two of us, I am suspicious about Perry. I find it unlikely that Zod would leave such a powerful man untouched.]

             
[TKRTPK: It is odd.]

             
[KT3.141592653: Do you know why?]

             
[TKRTPK: >:)]

             
[KT3.141592653: Ah.]

             
[TKRTPK: See you at Thanksgiving.]

             
[User TKRTPK has logged out.]

             
[End chat room program.]