Chapter 185

Louis stared at the TV as Savannah’s character, a heavily armed cyborg, tore through a shield wall of Vikings.

“That’s cheating,” Gladice said, watching over Savannah’s shoulder. “Vikings didn’t have plasma rifles.”

“Not my problem,” Savannah said, grinning as she gunned down a charging berserker. “They should have built better shields.”

“They were busy raiding monasteries and inventing democracy,” Angelique said from her seat on the sofa, not looking up from her phone. “Not preparing for a cyborg invasion.”

“This is the best game ever,” Savannah said. “I could do this all day.”

“I’m glad you’re having fun.” Louis smiled. “It was my favorite game last year.”

“I know, I watched the stream of this game. But I never got to play it.”

“You’re good at it. Natural talent.”

“I’m good at killing things,” Savannah said. “Even virtual ones.” Her cyborg character dodged a throwing axe and returned fire, cutting another Viking in half.

“Find anything?” Angelique asked Willa, who was typing furiously on her laptop.

“Nothing concrete,” Willa said. “But many university students in the Central Union are upset about the new law. They’re planning protests across the country.”

“I like that,” Gladice said. “Let’s join them and start a riot.”

“We’re not here to start a riot.” Angelique shook her head. “We’re here to find Brother John.”

“And to have fun,” Gladice said. “And to get drunk.”

“We can do all of those things,” Louis said. “If we are smart.”

“I’m always smart,” Gladice said.

“Sure you are,” Angelique said.

Yamamoto’s voice came over the intercom. “Sir. We’re approaching the border. The Central Union checkpoint is five kilometers ahead.”

“Copy that,” Louis said. “What’s the situation?”

“There’s a small crowd at the checkpoint. Some reporters and a few locals. They know we’re coming,” Yamamoto said.

“Of course they do,” Angelique said, sighing. “Nothing is secret anymore.”

“Let’s give them a show,” Gladice said, standing up and stretching. “They want to see the Collins Eight? We’ll show them.”

“Please don’t,” Willa said, her eyes still on her laptop. “Let’s be discreet.”

“Too late for that,” Savannah said, pausing the game. “This RV is the opposite of discreet.”

“Let’s just go through the checkpoint as planned,” Louis said. “And let the captain handle the press.”

Maeve returned to the driver’s seat. She took control of the RV. “I’ve got this.”

The RV slowed down as the Dominion checkpoint came into view. Four Dominion Guard SUVs were parked on the side of the road, their lights flashing. The border guards saluted as the RV passed.

They crossed the Snake River and approached the Central Union checkpoint. A small group of reporters and locals stood behind a fence, watching them. Two Central Union Border Service officers stood at the booth. The road widened into six inspection lanes beneath a concrete canopy. Central Union officers in dark green uniforms stood beside the booths, while two armored trucks waited behind a row of barriers. Cameras and scanners were mounted above each lane. One officer raised a hand and directed the convoy toward a separate inspection area.

“Looks like they want to have a closer look at our ride,” Maeve said, slowing the RV. “What do I do?”

“Follow their instructions,” Louis said. “And be polite. For now.”

Maeve steered the RV into the inspection area. Four border officers surrounded the vehicle. One of them knocked on the driver’s side window. Maeve lowered the window.

“Good afternoon. Please keep everyone inside and have your passports and vehicle documents ready,” the officer said.

“We have them,” Louis said, giving their passports to Maeve. She handed them to the officer.

“Thank you,” he said. He walked away and went to a small office. Another officer began walking around the RV, scanning it with a handheld device. Two more stood beside the SUVs, talking to the guards. Five minutes later, the officer returned.

“Please open the doors for inspection. And turn off the engine,” he said.

Louis looked at him. “This is our home, not a cargo container. You can look from the outside. You’re not coming in.”

The officer stared at him. “Sir, we have the authority to conduct a full inspection of any vehicle entering the Central Union. Please cooperate.”

“You do know who I am, don’t you?” Louis asked.

“I do, sir,” the officer said. “But the law applies to everyone. Including you.”

“What’s your full name and rank?” Louis asked. “I want to file a complaint.”

The officer hesitated. “I’m Officer Parker, sir. And I’m just following orders.”

“Who gave you the order? Your governor?” Louis asked. “Or your president?”

“My supervisor, sir. And the law,” Parker said. “Please open the doors.”

“Call your supervisor now,” Louis said. “I want to speak to him.”

Parker sighed and took out a radio. “This is Officer Parker at Highway 84 checkpoint. I need a supervisor at Lane 4. For a Rolls-Royce RV.”

“Copy that,” a voice said.

A man in a suit came out of the office and walked to the RV. He had a gray mustache and a tired face. He looked at Louis through the window.

“Mr. Collins. I’m Deputy Director Durham of the Central Union Border Service. I apologize for the inconvenience,” he said. “We were notified of your arrival this morning, but we have not received authorization to waive the inspection. In addition, you and your companions need to fill out a youth protection form.”

“Deputy Director Durham,” Louis said. “Let me be clear. We are not submitting to a full inspection. And we are not filling out any forms. My father has already spoken to your president. If you and your colleagues wish to keep your jobs, you will process our documents and let us pass.”

Durham swallowed. “Sir, with all due respect, we are in a delicate situation. The law was signed less than an hour ago. We have been instructed to enforce it without exception. The press is watching. And the local community is concerned.”

“How much do you earn every year, Deputy Director?” Louis asked.

Durham blinked. “Sir?”

“Answer the question,” Louis said.

“About one hundred and fifty thousand dollars,” Durham said. “With benefits.”

“And how much is your pension worth?” Louis asked.

“Enough to retire comfortably,” Durham said. “If I don’t get fired.”

“You won’t get fired if you do your job correctly,” Louis said. “And your job is to facilitate diplomatic travel. Not to harass the son of the Supreme President of the Dominion and his family.”

Durham looked at the press, then at the RV, then at the officers.

“I will need a moment,” he said. He walked away and took out a phone. He spoke into it for a few minutes. Then he came back.

“Mr. Collins,” he said. “I have received an order to let you pass without an interior inspection. But I will need a verbal acknowledgement of the law from you.”

“I will acknowledge that your law is a piece of shit, and that it will be repealed soon,” Louis said. “Now let us through.”

Durham’s jaw tightened. He gestured to the officers. “Open the gate.”

Louis nodded to Maeve. She started the engine and drove the RV through the gate. The SUVs followed them. They left the checkpoint and the press behind.

“We’re in,” Maeve said, her hands on the wheel. “Now what?”

“Now you can turn on the autopilot and join us upstairs,” Louis said. “Let’s celebrate our arrival in the land of rules and cows.”

“You got it,” Maeve said. She turned on the autopilot. “I’m coming.”

She joined them in the lounge as the RV accelerated onto the highway.

“That was intense,” Cherish said, her eyes wide. “I thought they were going to arrest us.”

“They wouldn’t dare,” Louis said, lying back on the sofa. “My dad told me everything is negotiable.”

“Even laws?” Donya asked.

“Especially laws,” Louis said. “If you have enough leverage.”

“I’m still surprised it worked,” Willa said. “I thought they would be more stubborn.”

“They were,” Louis said. “But they didn’t want to lose their jobs or pensions.”

“It’s always about money,” Savannah said. “And power.”

“Exactly,” Louis said.

Gladice opened the bar cabinet again. “So, since we’re not technically in the Dominion anymore, does this mean we’re breaking the law by drinking?”

“We’re breaking the law by existing,” Willa said. “So let’s have some fun.”

“I like your logic,” Gladice said. “I’ll take another sake.”

“Me too,” Maeve said. “I need one after that border shitshow.”

Angelique sighed but held out her glass. “Pour one for me too. Our responsible adult is off duty.”

Gladice grinned and poured more sake. “That’s the spirit, Angel.”

Cherish took a small sip and looked at Louis. “Are we really breaking the law? Right now?”

“Yes,” Louis said. “Fuck their law.”

Cherish giggled. “You’re a bad influence, Louis.”

“I know,” he said, winking. “And I’m proud of it.”

“So, this is Idaho,” Donya said, looking out the window. “It’s so flat.”

“And yellow,” Savannah said. “Like old paper.”

“I miss the forest already,” Cherish said.

“We’ll see forests again in Yellowstone,” Angelique said.

“I hope so,” Cherish said.

“What’s that?” Maeve asked, pointing at a cluster of colorful structures on the right side of the highway.

“Looks like a waterpark,” Gladice said, leaning closer to the window. “Not too bad.”

“I want to go there,” Cherish said. “Can we go there?”

“We have better waterparks in the Dominion,” Angelique said. “And we can be naked in them.”

“Naked?” Cherish stared at her. “In public?”

“It’s legal in the Dominion,” Louis said. “In every public space.”

“Even in the streets?” Cherish asked.

“Yes,” Louis said. “If you want to. But most people don’t. They prefer to be naked at the beach.”

“I can’t imagine that,” Cherish said, shaking her head. “It’s indecent.”

Angelique sighed. “It’s just a choice, Cherry. No one is forcing you to be naked if you don’t want to. And no one is judging you if you do. That’s the difference.”

“I don’t think I could ever do that,” Cherish said. “Even in the Dominion.”

“You don’t have to, Cherry,” Louis said. “Just do whatever you feel like as long as you’re happy.”

“Okay,” Cherish said, smiling.

“So, I guess we’re not going to the waterpark?” Maeve asked.

“No,” Louis said. “But let’s go to one after we get back. I know a good one in Santa Monica.”

“With naked people?” Maeve asked.

“Some of them,” Louis said. “If you’re lucky.”

“I don’t want to see naked strangers,” Maeve said.

“You don’t have to,” Louis said. “We can reserve the entire park. Just for us.”

“Now you’re talking,” Gladice said. “A private naked waterpark party. I’m in.”

“Me too,” Savannah said. “I like the sound of that.”

“We need to finish our mission first,” Angelique said. “Then we can party.”

“Yes, Mom,” Gladice said, rolling her eyes.

“Let’s focus,” Angelique said. “What’s the plan for tonight? Where do we park?”

Louis shrugged. “We can find a parking lot of a hotel so the guards can get rooms. Or we can find a more remote place and let them camp.”

“I don’t want them to camp,” Maeve said. “They are professionals. They deserve a good bed.”

“They’re getting paid a lot of money to follow us around,” Savannah said. “They can handle a night in a tent.”

“I’d rather let them keep their energy,” Louis said. “But before that, I want to have a proper dinner of the local cuisine.”

“I want beef,” Maeve said.

“Good idea,” Louis said. “We can find a nice steakhouse in Idaho Falls. I wonder if they serve bison.”

“Bison?” Cherish asked. “Is that a kind of cow?”

“It’s like a cow, but wilder,” Gladice said. “And with bigger balls.”

“Bison don’t have bigger balls than cows,” Angelique said. “They are just bigger animals.”

“How would you know, Angel?” Gladice asked. “Have you seen a lot of bison balls?”

“Let’s not talk about bison balls,” Willa said. “Or any balls.”

“Fine,” Gladice said.

“I can make a reservation at a nice steakhouse in Idaho Falls,” Angelique said. “There is one with good reviews. The Snake Bite Grill.”

“Sounds promising,” Maeve said.

“I’ll call them,” Angelique said, taking out her phone. “And I’ll see if they have a table for eight.”

“And a parking spot for this monster,” Savannah said.

“Of course,” Angelique said. “They will make room for us.”

Gladice stood up and stretched again. “I’m going to take a bath. A long, hot one. With bubbles.”

“Don’t use all the hot water,” Maeve said.

“This RV has an unlimited hot water system, Mae-Mae,” Gladice said. “I can use as much as I want. And I will.” She winked at Louis. “You’re welcome to join me.”

Louis looked at the others, who were all looking at him.

“I haven’t spent time with Gladie alone since we got back,” he said. “I think I’ll take her up on that offer.”

Savannah raised an eyebrow. “And you haven’t spent time alone with me either, Louis. I’m waiting.”

“Noted, Savvy,” Louis said, smiling. “You’re next.”

“You better,” she said.

“I will,” he said. He looked at Angelique. “Is that okay with you?”

“Go,” Angelique said, smiling. “Have fun. Just try not to flood the bathroom.”

Maeve said something to Cherish that Louis didn’t catch, and Cherish giggled, her face turning a soft pink. Willa was looking at her laptop, but Louis could see the smile on her face. Donya nodded to him, her eyes warm. “Enjoy, Louis.”

“I will,” he said.

Gladice took his hand and led him to the bedroom behind the main lounge. “Come on, Louis. I’ve been waiting for this.”