Resurrection - Воскрешение

[Volkova]

Petrograd Kremlin, Volkova Oblast, Волкова

Ekaterina Alekseevna did not like what she was hearing. The Tsarevisch had gotten into another mess. Boris was always in a mess it seemed.

"Perhaps he should be shackled, to prevent any more people from having to suffer. That man is cursed, and it always gets taken out on those around him.", Her lips pursed after her biting comments about Boris. Her eyes narrowed, too.

"Premier, It was an accident..." Her assitant, Anna, was shocked at the Premier's open hostility."

"I know what it was, girl. Obviously, it was an accident. He's just a boy with a little crown, gallavanting around." Alekseevna raised her coffee cup to her lips. The coffee was tepid. "Get me something hot."

Anna looked bewildered.

"PLEASE!"

Anna turned an rushed from the office.

Ekaterina returned her attention to the mass of papers in from of her: Bills from the Imperial Parliament and a request to address the Noble Chamber.

The Premier shivered at the thought of a corpse leading a nation. Then she thought it couldn't be worse than having to deal with Tsarevich Boris and his shennanigans.

Anna returned with steaming cup. She placed it on the Premier's desk and took away the old one. She said nothing. It wasn't a good time.

 

[Volkova]

Premier's House, Petrograd, Volkova Oblast, Волкова

Premier Alekseevna laid the telephone receiver back on the cradle. The Imperial Parliament Speaker tended to push her buttons as if he specialized in it. Fifty million for a bridge in his hometown, when his hometown had so many bridges already. She wondered how the Empire would ever get its budget deficit down. She figured it wouldn't happen any time soon. Her jaw was clenched.

"Nevva!" Ekaterina called firmly. The household manager came to her residential office promptly.

"Yes, Premier!" The woman was in her mid fifties. Her medium length hair,streaked with silver, was curled and displayed stylishly, but conservatively. She looked at the Premier over the rims of her reading spectacles.

"Has the Tsar's office called to schedule his time with me, yet?'

"Yes, Premier. Friday at noon. His Majesty will host you at lunch at Bhkask's.

"Bhkask's? Well, His Majesty must be trying to impress. Delighful crab and spinach quiche they have there. He must be ready to concede some on Tsarevich's behavior, and reel him in. I hope that is the case...we'll never mind my speculating. How are preparations coming on the Oblast Commissioners' Banquet? Is it coming in under budget?"

"Coming along well, Premier. We''l be ready for next Saturday, and will be under budget." Nevva Protsvalvl could smile, finally, knwoing that the Premier always loved to hear that someone was spending as little money as possible.

"Good." Alekseevna smiled back. " Could you call for my car. I have a hair appointment downtown in half an hour. My roots look absolutely hideous." She actually even laughed.

Nevva laughed back. If the Premier was a man, he could have a paunch, be balding, let the hair grow like jungle out of his ears, and nothing would said. But a woman; she had to be imaculate, lest she be criticized. The double standard was dying, but still very alive with the political crowd. "Yes, Premier." She excused herself to call for the car.

 

[Volkova]

Premier's House, Petrograd, Volkova Oblast, Волкова

Ekaterina Alekseevna was usually in bed by 11pm. This night she wasn't. The main phone had been ringing incessantly, or she had been ringing others. Finally, she had found the first five minutes in which she neither made or received a call.

She stood up from the sofa, intending to make her way to the bathroom and the medicine cabinet; She needed an aspirin.

"τράβα στο ... !" She stubbed her toe against the coffee table. "Someone, dammit, come here." A young woman appeared almost immediately. It was like clockwork. Though the schedule the Premier ran ensured that someone was always ready to answer her at any time

"Anna, do go fetch me an aspirin, please." The premier had her jaw clenched at the pain that pulsed not only in her head, but also in her toe now, too."

Anna was quick about it, scurrying immediately. It was what one did for Ekaterina Alekseevna.

Ekaterina stood holding her head, considering the events, wanting to go to bed, knowing that it wasn't gaing to happen any time soon. Director Nikolai Brobka of Joint Command would be at the Residence any minute, accompanied by a group of special ops. The events in the past years at Northern Volkova were disconcerting ones, and immediately raised alert levels in Petrograd.

Her mind raced. Kikarkza Terrorists? The Populars? Volkova had contacts everywhere.

The Director did not even bother waiting to be announced. He removed his cap as he entered the den. "Premier."

Alekseevna jumped. "General Brobka!" He pushed her hair behind her ear, putting a smile on her face.

"Sorry to startle you, Premier."

"It's quite alright. Tense time." She half smiled.

"Yes. Premier, I must ask you to come with me to a more secure location. His Majesty and the others are all on their way west, already."

"Of course, I'll be ready in five minutes." She moved to gather a few effects. A bit overkill, isn't it? She nodded slightly as she passed him.

The General looked at his watch as the Premier moved to the hallway and ascended the staircase to the private residence.