Celeste
⌛Chapter Five⌛

There was a massive funeral that was being broadcasted everywhere. Everyone in the American Nations had stopped what they were doing to pay their respects.

The Adviser had died. That's how he was known to the Civilian people. He was by the side of the Department Heads and made sure that checks and balances were kept in line. i

To the older generation he was the last Captain of the Mother Ship. He would help command the fighting forces. And he made sure the civilian people were safe.

He was an important man, and his time had come when he fell sick.

He did everything he could and didn't regret a single thing.

The day was dreary, it rained earlier and the clouds still remained in the sky. People were outside and crowding around as others traveled with the group that escorted the casket. The Adviser had a high honor. He was a decorated man that showed his accomplishments over his life time, and he was getting the service that he deserved.

"I feel ignorant." Celeste said quietly as she walked beside Dri.

She was only here because Dri asked her to go with him. She didn't know what the funeral would be like but she wasn't expecting this. It was a massive response. When she first heard about what was going to happen, she had a puzzled expression on her face. Though, now she was still as confused as before because she didn't see the significance that everyone else saw.

She didn't know how important this man was to everyone, especially to the high ranking officials.

She kept her arm linked with Dri's as they walked. She couldn't forget that he was in his formal uniform just like the other soldiers that were present. She wore a black dress, almost to the length of the ground. Her silver hair was down over her shoulders, the only part of her that wasn't covered in black.

She didn't want to look around to see everyone else, but she noticed all the military officials, and other officials from different departments.

She didn't have a badge to show her importance.

She didn't have anything.

She was just a regular civilian. Beside her, Dri wore all of his badges to show who he was, and he was paying his respects.

"I don't know why he's so important." She whispered to him.

She's never seen a funeral so massive. To know that everyone was watching or participating in some way astounded her. No one else got this big a funeral.

"He was the person the department heads answer to." Dri whispered back. "The President is for the people, Captain Iris was for us."

"Wasn't he in charge of the Mother Ship?" She had heard from someone.

"So I've heard." He had heard, too.

Celeste didn't know anything about the previous generation. She didn't think learning about it in school was enough, she knew that information was watered down. She couldn't trust what she was told then.

"Who's taking his place?" She asked.

Clearly they needed a new Adviser. Who was going to keep all the departments in check now?

Dri was quiet for a moment before he looked ahead. "No one knows yet."

They continued to walk with the others in the street. There were crowds and crowds of people walking in silence.

He was debating if he wanted to tell Celeste anymore than he should. Some of it wasn't for Civilian people.

But what he knew involved her father. Maybe he should give her some notice before something happens.

"There's a rumor that Aurora might do it." He said, but Celeste wasn't happy about that.

It seemed that Iris was in his position until the day he died. Celeste didn't want that for Aurora.

Celeste hated that idea. "I want him to retire."

"Well, that's not the main issue." Dri leaned closer to her as they walked. He couldn't let anyone else know what he was telling her. "If he leaves his position, his pending charges will become active. The Department of Justice will arrest him." He whispered.

Celeste looked at him quickly. She had no idea Aurora had pending charges. It's not like he would tell her, but still. Aurora? As far as Celeste knows, Aurora isn't the criminal type. She wanted to know what the hell he did to have pending charges on his profile.

"You're joking." Celeste didn't believe him.

He shushed her. "I've heard it from a few people." he said quietly.

"Aurora wouldn't consider that." she was sure of it.

"Other countries aren't excited about the idea of him taking Iris' place either, they think he might be a dictator." Dri kept facing forward as they walked with the others around them.

They had reached a grassy area, and other peopled filed in behind them.

The plain was empty.

Only one grave was prepared here.

"Aurora as a dictator?" Celeste didn't believe what Dri was telling her. What did others see in Aurora that Celeste couldn't? It was ridiculous how they thought of him.

"I know." Dri agreed with her. "Apparently no one understands the concept of 'democracy' but I can't say that we're entirely truthful."

Some people understand how the departments works and who has real power.

"No one wants the position, so I can't tell you what happens yet." Dri said to her.

Celeste was never involved in the politics. She didn't know what went on with the departments, within the borders, with other countries. She wasn't an official for her department so it's not like she could get details. She was just a regular civilian.

The funeral continued. Only a select few were allowed to see the burial. Celeste stayed close with Dri since he knew what he was doing. People were paying their respects, some had said a few words, others cried quietly to themselves. Celeste had to pretend she knew.

But she didn't.

She felt like the odd one out.

She saw multiple department heads talking among themselves and it looked serious. Aurora was with them. Sirus was behind him. Who was going to take Iris' place? It didn't look like any of them wanted the position.

Dri had turned to see where Celeste was looking.

She was watching her parents. There was so much she didn't know and so much she wanted to ask but she felt like it was easier to keep her mouth shut.

"So which way did they have you?" Dri asked quietly, hoping the question wasn't too personal.

There were multiple different processes for parents to have children if they were unable to.

"Empty egg and surrogate." Celeste said, almost distracted, she hadn't even realized she answered. She kept her eyes on her parents. "I don't know who my carrier was. I didn't ask." She didn't think it would matter anyway, she didn't get her genes.

"You're just like them, you know." Dri said, almost politely because he didn't want to upset her.

Celeste already knew.

She expected every child to be like their parents. Some get good qualities and bad qualities. She knew what was what.

"They don't talk." Celeste looked at Dri finally. "I mean, I ask about things that happen before and they won't tell me." she was upset that things were kept from her. "And I get they're protecting me from whatever, but it's not fair." Celeste hated it. She wanted to know about them.

She wanted to see what they saw.

"Aurora has PTSD and I didn't even know that." Celeste shook her head. "I had to find out from the Head of Health and Medicine. Imagine that." She didn't think other people should be telling her these things.

"Don't worry about that now." Dri wanted her to focus. "You're stressed because you're actually starting your research trial tonight." He said.

Dri's surgery was tonight and Celeste had this lingering thought like she shouldn't do it, like it was a bad idea. Harlow warned her but it seemed like Celeste won't listen. The implant would function at ninety-seven percent which was much better than what Hariette and Aurora had.

"You'd tell me if something was wrong, right?" Celeste asked.

"Always." Dri smiled at her. "You can trust me." He wanted her to believe him. No one else would have Celeste's back like he does.

He'd protect her with his life.

She smiled at him, too. "You're going to be a great sector leader."

"I already feel like one since I'm handling all the work now." Dri was stressed too, just like Celeste. "Tell Sirus to take a day off so I can, too. He's killing me." He complained.

"Yeah, like he'll listen to me." Celeste rolled her eyes.

Dri sighed and moved his hands in his pants pockets. Celeste continued to look around. She could only recognize a few older people, but other than that, everyone was a stranger to her.

One of her aunts was there, walking over to Aurora, her cousins with her. They probably didn't know either. Celeste reminded herself that she might not be the only one to be kept in the dark.

"Cersi." Dri had said and straightened up immediately.

Another woman walked over to them. She was in the same uniform that Dri was wearing, badges all over her. Her white hair was tied up cleanly in a bun, not a strand out of place.

There was a tired look in her eyes as she looked at Dri.

"I'm sorry for your loss." Dri said kindly.

"Thank you." she was grateful. "Iris kept his word and said he would do his job till the day he died, so..."

Celeste wanted to ask her something. "Who was he to you?" she wasn't sure if she was being impolite or not, but she asked anyway.

"My grandfather." Cersi answered. "I don't believe..." She didn't recognize Celeste. When she had introduced herself, Cersi nodded. "You're Sirus' kid." she said.

Right.

"I honestly thought you of all people would be in this department." She said bluntly to Celeste, but she gestured to Dri.

Shouldn't Celeste be taking over sector one?

She never wanted to.

"I think Dri is more of a leader than I am." Celeste smiled.

As much as the question offended her, she knew that Cersi didn't mean it that way. Though Celeste never liked when people assumed she would follow after her parents, especially with joining the Defense Department. No one would know unless she tells them the question offended her.

She kept it to herself.

She was lucky to direct the conversation on to Dri instead.

"He's definitely come a long way, that's for sure." Cersi smiled, though her expression was tired. "Soon, we'll be working together."

Celeste figured that Cersi was about to be a sector leader, and by the badges she wore, it was going to be one of the first five.

Celeste didn't know what that meant.

She smiled as they talked, not understanding what they were saying, mostly because she didn't work for the department.

"You're not going to take Iris' place?" Dri had finally asked Cersi.

"The department heads are deciding that." she looked over to a group that were together. "I hope they don't consider me." she was serious. "I don't know how I'd feel if one of our Commanders took his place either." she said.

"Heard the rumor?"

"That Commander Aurora might do it?" she asked. "Yeah, I heard. Also heard that might make Europe declare war immediately so I don't think Aurora's going anywhere." she scoffed at the idea.

Celeste didn't know what others were seeing in Aurora that she couldn't.

"It'd be good for him to stay." Cersi smiled. "It would be difficult to control an army that has extreme loyalty only to him and the two others."

Dri agreed with her.

Celeste figured why Aurora had difficulty stepping down from his position. How loyal were the forces?

She didn't know how hard they would fight for their Commanders.

No wonder other countries had problems with him. He could be anywhere and have complete control of his forces. Celeste didn't know.

"I should be going." Cersi said to them. "It was nice meeting you, Celeste." she nodded kindly and walked by them.

She was so formal, Celeste had noticed that. She gave respect where it was supposed to be given.

Celeste turned around to watch Cersi walk away. It was the first time that Celeste considered working for the department because she wanted to know just as much as Cersi. There were thing being kept from the people, like who the knew Adviser was going to be.

Celeste really didn't want it to be Aurora.

"You okay?" Dri asked her.

"Yeah, I just..." she didn't know what to say. "I don't know. I might be the only person who doesn't know what's going on."

"Celeste, I can tell you that millions of people have no idea what's going to happen. You're not the only one." he said to her. "I don't know what's going to happen either." he didn't want her to be stressed out.

She mashed her lips together tightly as she continued to look around, scanning the grassy area to find her parents.

They were together, talking to each other away from others. Sirus had said something, probably a joke that Aurora didn't find funny because he rolled his eyes and shoved Sirus away from him.

They didn't seem worried.

So she told herself that she didn't need to be.

It wasn't her business. She should mind her own.

Later that evening, Dri and Celeste were waiting in one of the hospital surgical rooms. Everything was already sterile and Celeste couldn't touch anything. Dri was sitting on the bed, a mask over his face.

Clover had made his assumptions clear to both of them about the implant.

He told Dri what he was doing, what should happen, and what to expect if things went bad. He looked at the blue print, and he wasn't an engineer, so he based everything on what Celeste told him.

"He likes you." Dri said, his voice muffled by the mask. "He has this look in his eyes like he's ready to ask you out." He laughed quietly.

"I'm ready to be taken out." Celeste crossed her arms over her chest. "Clover's smart, too."

"Oh?" Dri was entertained. "I know you like the smart ones."

"I like tough ones, too." Celeste smiled. "I do prefer army men if I'm being honest."

"I should get on that then." Dri had that same look that he described Clover to have. "After all this is done, we can definitely go somewhere together." He said.

"That's how you ask me?" Celeste had to admit she wasn't impressed.

"I can't exactly kiss your hand with a mask over my mouth." He said to her.

She thought it would be romantic if he made the gesture, then again she wasn't the romantic type. He was though. Celeste always called him a gentleman and he was.

She leaned forward and pressed her lips over his mask, where his lips would be if he wasn't wearing it. It was so easy for her to steal a kiss from him. He wished that he didn't already put the mask on. He could only imagine what it felt like to kiss her lips.

When she pulled away, she opened her eyes. Her maroon eyes were bright under the white lights. She smiled at him kindly, and he looked at her with the same look in his eyes. He really liked her.

"Try again after the surgery." Celeste wanted a do-over. Dri was finally ready but he couldn't do anything because he was about to have surgery.

Clover came over to them quietly and set a small container down on a silver tray. His surgical gloves were glowing, a small robotic system turning on by the bed. He hadn't noticed the two of them close together, or he chose to ignore it. He knew Celeste was taken, but he thought it was by another woman.

For now he had to put that aside. He had to do his job, and he swore to do no harm, so he was focused on the surgery.

The implant was in the container, floating in fluid. It wasn't on just yet, but it was about to be.

"This is a high risk surgery because of your arm, Dri." Clover said. "I can't have you power it down because I need all neurons firing, but you might have a small glitch in your system for a few days because of the implant." He warned them both.

"Something I can fix?" Celeste asked.

"We won't know until after the surgery." Clover answered. "It shouldn't take long, but it's spinal cord surgery so I don't know what will happen."

"You're great at this, Clover. You got this." Celeste hit his back, and though she thought she was gentle, he would say otherwise.

There were two men in the room in love with her.

Celeste has a big heart. She'd be with everyone she liked if she could. She tried to remain oblivious but she saw the way the two looked at her. It's hard to not notice that.

She left the room when Clover was ready to begin. She couldn't stay and watch, she didn't want to draw attention to herself. The surgery was a secret and it has to stay that way. Clover was working on his own. He said the surgery wouldn't last long, but what was long to him might be different for her.

She was gone for a few hours. She walked around, she tried to distract herself, she tried to keep herself occupied.

But she had to admit that she was a little scared for him. When she couldn't distract herself more, she decided to call Zinnia. At least talking to someone else might make her feel better.

Celeste spoke to a small hologram projecting from her tablet. She was waiting outside the hospital with a drink in her hand.

She was glad to see Zinnia's face.

She had to admit she was a little stressed out. Zinnia calmed her down. Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ FɪndNovᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

"How's it going?" Zinnia asked her.

It was late in the evening and Zinnia was sitting in bed with her red hair tied up. She stayed up because she figured Celeste might be stressed out. She was waiting for her to call.

"I trust Clover." Celeste believed what she said. "But...knowing what I know, I'm scared for Dri." She admitted.

She's seen what happened. She was worried that the implant might malfunction.

"You said it yourself, Celeste. A ten percent increase is the change between some of the damages the implant could cause." Zinnia said to her. "All that number stuff is just noise to me, but you were so serious when you said it."

"I know, I just..." A lot has been going on for Celeste. She had to admit she almost didn't believe in herself like she did before.

She knew a lot more information now.

She wanted the implant to work. She wanted Dri to be okay.

"Tell you what, if it works out for Dri, you can put one in me, too." Zinnia said.

"I know what I want to put in you." Celeste had another thought.

"Aren't you in public?" Zinnia asked quickly after Celeste's comment.

"Yeah," she shrugged. "I think that's hot." She admitted, not ashamed.

"We need to work on that." Zinnia warned her. "You know I don't like it when you do crazy things in public."

"But at work it's okay-"

"It's only okay when it's just the two of us and it's not shift change. You nearly gave me a heart attack that one time."

Celeste remembered that one time. She began to smile as she licked her lips. She definitely remembered that one time. Zinnia shook her head.

"I hope Dri handles you better than I can." Zinnia said.

"You're okay with...well..."

Celeste didn't think Zinnia would be open to her being with someone else. Zinnia had a plain expression on her face as she thought for a second.

"If I'm being honest, I get a little jealous sometimes." Zinnia admitted.

She has to say that she's thought about it. She liked Celeste. And she did say she wanted a casual relationship, but knowing Celeste had eyes for another person could make anyone jealous.

"But you look at him the way you look at me. And I know I can't give you things that he can. Why would I want to get in the way of that?" She asked.

It's like she had it figured out, but she has heard Celeste talk about Dri the way she does for two years. It's about time something happens.

"Plus, that's hot." Zinnia added, leaning her head on to her hand.

"I'm telling him you said that." Celeste smiled.

"He'd say the same thing and you know it." Zinnia laughed.

She wasn't wrong.

Celeste just needed to figure out if this was going to happen or not. But she also wanted to make sure that Dri was fine first. She hoped his surgery was going okay.

"I guess he would." Celeste said quietly as she looked up to the dark sky, seeing the stars and projections of light.

"He'll be okay, Celeste." Zinnia said to her, hoping she wouldn't have that lost expression on her face. "If you stop worrying, I'll..."

Celeste looked at her hologram to see why Zinnia didn't finish what she was saying. She saw Zinnia begin to lift her shirt up. She got just a peek of Zinnia's breast, a glimpse of her nipple. Celeste mashed her lips together when Zinnia put her shirt back down.

"It's nice to know you're in my bed." Celeste tilted her head to the side.

"You should be here with me." Zinnia smiled at her. "But I won't hold it against you for wanting to be with your boyfriend."

"You're great."

"I know." Zinnia liked the compliment. "I'll be here when you get back." she said to her.

Celeste felt a little better, enough to not worry about Dri. She had to have faith in Clover, and she trusted Zinnia's words.

"Everything is functioning fine." Clover said as he looked at the models for Dri's body. Celeste was relieved to know that Dri was okay.

For now everything worked.

"The only thing we have to worry about is interference from both systems." He turned everything off. "You might've made both of them, but they operate differently so watch out for that." He explained as he looked at Celeste.

"Thank you, Clover." She said kindly. "I really appreciate you doing this for me." she meant it.

She wouldn't have asked for his help if she didn't trust him.

"I hope it's not too much to ask if I...monitor him, too." Clover was careful to suggest. He was sure Celeste only wanted to give him limited involvement.

He already had access to so much. He's seen everything, helped Celeste make changes. He was just as guilty as she was.

When Celeste looked at him again, her eyes were kind.

Clover felt better asking. "After everything you told me I want to make sure I catch anything before it happens."

"That'd be great." Celeste agreed. "You're the expert on this stuff so I do need your help."

He began to blush. He looked away sharply somewhere else because he was slightly flustered. She was standing right next to him. He should've stepped away if he was that nervous.

Dri was awake, and he was just watching Celeste enjoy this moment.

Celeste wasn't oblivious to how people saw her. She knew she was a flirt, she knew she used people sometimes, she knew who liked her. She liked when people liked her. She liked the attention.

She liked seeing Clover blush. She thought he was cute.

When Clover left the room, still flustered, Celeste turned to Dri, a smile on her face. He knew what she was doing, but he didn't say anything yet. He just had this knowing expression on his face. If he wasn't careful, she would play with his heart, too.

He knew better.

"How do you feel?" she asked him.

"Fine." he answered, and added, "well, nothing's changed really." he said.

He didn't know how he was supposed to feel, but he felt normal. It was like nothing happened.

"So, I can...watch my memories?" he asked her.

"Yes." she answered.

"And I can show people what I've seen?" he asked.

It was like he wasn't listening those other times that she was talking to him. All of her words went in one ear and out the other apparently.

"Yes." she answered again.

This was the first test. He had the first working implant she had made, and she hoped it worked successfully.

"So...I can see your face over and over again?" he asked her as he moved strands of her silver hair out of her face, tucking them behind her ear.

Her cheeks were turning red faintly. She looked down as she began to blush.

He got to see this again if he wanted. He would never be able to forget the way she looks, how she tried to hide behind her dark eye lashes. He could look at her forever, and he had the chance to.

How was he going to tell her that he was happy about that?

"I'm glad you're okay." she said quietly. She was worried about him. "Promise me you'll tell me if you feel like there's something wrong." she held his other hand and looked into his eyes.

She was serious about this.

"I promise." he said.

He was sure that everything would be fine. He trusted Celeste, and that meant trusting her work. She knew what she was doing.

So now she just has to watch and see. If she was lucky, she wouldn't need to worry about the implant malfunctioning.

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