10-28-2019, 06:04 AM
The Cauhloc - Secretariat of Security Headquarters
Tlālacuetztla, Xiomera
Tepilcayotl looked over the report, his eyes narrowing. "Is this information accurate?" he said finally, looking up from the tablet screen.
Xotōch, the Undersecretary for Counterintelligence, gave a soft snort of annoyance. "My information is always accurate, sir. You know this," he said with a tone of gentle rebuke.
"I know, Xotōch. This is just.....you are certain this surge of social media posts promoting Yauhmi and spreading rumors about me being connected to Letitia Greenwood are originating from foreign sources?" Tepilcayotl said grimly.
"Yes. We have not been quite able to narrow down the country of origin just yet. But as this sort of thing often goes....the foreign sources planting the media planted a seed - a seed of misinformation. Now local Xiomeran sources are running with it and spreading it along. The more you try to stomp it out, the more it grows." Xotōch sighed again, picking up his own tablet and sending some additional data to the tablet belonging to his bosses. "But there's more. The posts going after Yauhmi - the ones alleging she had an affair - those originated from a different foreign source. And the weird surge of posts promoting Cozamalotl out of nowhere - yet another source. We are the target of multiple foreign interventions. The Great Selection is being hacked."
"I know about some of this already," Tepilcayotl said, waving away the information about hackers helping him with a gesture. Xotōch simply nodded. "But the rest of this....these other hackers.....I want to know who they are. There will be repercussions for this....whether I am still in this office or not."
Xotōch raised an eyebrow. "Are you planning a vacation, sir?"
Tepilcayotl raised an eyebrow of his own. "Don't be deliberately obtuse. If I win the election, I move on from this office to become Emperor. If I lose....I move on from this office into obscurity. Or nothingness," the Security Secretary said, eyeing a ceremonial dagger hanging in a frame on the wall above Xotōch.
Xotōch simply nodded again; he knew what Xiomera expected of those who were defeated. When you risked it all for power, either you won, or you ended.
"Either way, Xotōch....I am not going to let this stand. If I lose...I intend to recommend you as my replacement, to whoever does become the next Emperor. If I win, I will just put you in charge of security. Either way, if the gods favor Xiomera, you'll be sitting where I am now. Find out who hacked the Great Selection, and make sure they receive a lesson on what happens when you trifle with the Xiomeran Empire. For my sake," Tepilcayotl said quietly. "However, I don't plan to lose just yet. I have the power of the entire Xiomeran intelligence service at my disposal. I intend to use it. Begin countering all this nonsense about me at once."
Xotōch bowed in respect, as Tepilcayotl rose from his chair to travel to the Huēyi Teōcalli. The next vote was scheduled to begin soon.
---
Palace of Flowers
Montelin, Xiomera
In the Golden Chamber, Yauhmi sat and had her usual morning cup of coffee. While her investigative resources were nowhere as extensive as those of her rival Tepilcayotl, she had her own ways of finding out what she needed to know.
"I am unamused at whoever would dare to claim that I would betray my marriage vows," she said calmly. A soft sip from her teacup underscored her words. Texōccoatl, her son, and Tehuatl, her campaign manager, nodded in response. "Your speech has managed to reverse much of the damage caused by that lie - especially since no one has come forward to claim they are the man in question," Tehuatl said. She tapped her tablet, scrolling down to review the latest numbers. "Most people being polled now believe the accusation is a dirty trick. Your support helped a lot with that also," Tehuatl added while looking at Texōccoatl. "I think we can get past it."
"Perhaps. But I do not intend to simply get past it," Yauhmi said coolly as she put down her teacup. She waved her hand at the man who had silently been standing behind her, observing the conversation. Ixatli, her personal bodyguard and a former ASI agent, dropped to one knee in respect as Yauhmi looked at him. "Begin trying to find out who spread these lies about me. I will not rest until I show whoever is responsible that one does not slander an Empress of Xiomera. I am the sun of this golden land, and I will burn whoever did this to my reputation and to the honor of my marriage."
Ixatli nodded, standing up to leave. His connections with ASI would serve him well as he began his hunt.
Tehuatl and Texōccoatl smiled at Yauhmi's confidence. She clearly believed she was going to triumph in the Great Selection - not a shred of doubt could be found in her demeanor or her words. "My father chose well, Mother," Texōccoatl said as he held a hand for Yauhmi to rise from her chair. "You have the strength of the gods in you."
"And the goddesses, Texōccoatl," Yauhmi chuckled softly. "Don't forget them. Let us head to the Huēyi Teōcalli. It is time for the next vote to begin."
---
The Xōhuitlto
Tlālacuetztla, Xiomera
"It wasn't enough. In the end, it just wasn't enough."
Natcuahuacu, Cozamalotl's campaign manager, sighed softly. "In the end, it does not appear that we have been able to convince enough of the voters on the ihuicatl to advance you to the next round. The fearmongering by Tepilcayotl and Yauhmi, the social media onslaught, the sheer inertia of a complacent populace, the damned corruption and vote-buying in the ihuicatl..."
The Necatli woman fought back tears as she laid the tablet down on the desk. "By our calculations.....both you and Xocolcōza will be voted out in the next round. Tepilcayotl and Yauhmi will advance to the final round of the Great Selection," Natcuahuacu said somberly.
The sitting room in Cozamalotl's home was silent as a morgue, until a voice finally broke the silence. "This is not a defeat."
Cozamalotl stood up, firmly rapping the table. "Hear me well, all of you. This is not a defeat."
He looked at each person in the room. "Do you know what has happened here? For the first time, we have been able to broadcast an uninterrupted message of reform and change to every Xiomeran. Where XUN and HNN failed, where underground efforts failed...we did it, here and now. The Great Selection has been broadcast all over Xiomera - all over the world. And throughout this travesty of an election, we have been able to show every Xiomeran what we stand for. We have been able to show the world just how corrupt and cruel the Empire is. We have shown people there is a better path for this country to take - and the idiots in the government gave us the means to do it. The reform movement is out of the shadows now. We have shown everyone that we are not terrorists and radicals as the government claims. We have shown that we are just people - people who know there is a better path than repression and tyranny. And we have shown that we are not afraid of the government."
Cozamalotl stood straighter, his demeanor hardly that of someone who had just been handed a defeat. "They will come for us, after this election. Do not doubt it. The message we spread during this election will be the final nail in the coffin of the Xiomeran Empire. And they know it. They won't let us just walk away. But we knew that when we made this bid. We knew we wouldn't win, likely as not. But this isn't about this one sham election to replace one tyrant with another. This is about the future."
Cozamalotl turned around the room, eyeing everyone. "I see gathered before me all the tribes of Huenya - Itotemoc, Necatli, Tepiltzin and, yes, Xiomeran. I see Teyatia. I see people from other lands who became part of us. I see different ages, races, genders, religions. I see what the true heart of this country is, here in this room. When they do come for us, they will realize then just what a grave mistake they have made in this so-called Great Selection. But it will be far too late for them then. We have started the wheel of time turning, and someday, it will lead to change."
"I will never be Emperor. I knew that going into this. I never wanted to be Emperor - I don't even want Emperors to exist. I would rather make the Obsidian Throne into some jewelry to sell tourists than sit on the damned thing. But I have achieved my goal. I have planted a seed which, if we are lucky, will lead to the end of the Empire. I may not be alive to see it - but it will happen. So no crying or sadness, any of you. We have lost a battle. The war is just beginning. It is a war for the soul of the people of Huenya - and we will win. Now let's go to the Huēyi Teōcalli, and show the tyrants that free people are rising."
As the people in the room broke out into cheers, Cozamalotl's eyes met those of Huitzilhuani, on the other side of the room. He nodded to her, and received an answering smile in return.
---
XBA Tower
Xiomeran Business Association headquarters
Downtown Tlālacuetztla
"It's over." A single flat voice echoed out into the conference room.
Xocolcōza shook his head. "We still have a reasonable chance. If we can get control of the message on social media, swing back some of the voters in the ihuicatl who dropped support for my bid unexpectedly, offer bigger incentives than they got to switch sides..."
"Just stop, Xocolcōza." Zaxōc, CEO of Mizhua Corporation, shook his head disdainfully. "You're polling with the general public at three percent. Three percent! You're not even close to that loser Cozamalotl, much less the two frontrunners." Zaxōc shook his head again. "The numbers among the voters on the council are no better - you will not advance further, they have made that painfully clear. We have to accept that we made a bad bet here, and that this plan to put you in the Obsidian Throne is not going to work."
Before Xocolcōza could mount any further protest, Mezcalinzi, the CEO of ISTC, coughed softly. "We already voted before you even arrived to this meeting, Xocolcōza. In order to avoid offending whoever becomes Emperor now, and to salvage what we can out of this mess in order to protect our business interests, we will not support your bid further," he said.
"So what exactly do you expect me to do now, other than get my ass handed to me in this next vote?" Xocolcōza said bitterly.
"What we do best," Tlitiaya, the CEO of Coltec Automotive Corporation, said calmly. "Find the best partner to connect with, and make a deal."
---
Huēyi Teōcalli
Tlālacuetztla, Xiomera
One hour later
The great sacred hall of the Huēyi Teōcalli was abuzz with activity. The voters of the council of experts, those still seeking to lobby them or strike last-minute deals before the next vote, and the running of people delivering messages and notes back and forth dominated the central floor. Above and around the central floor, the ancient seats were lined with media, foreign and Xiomeran dignitaries, and select members of the public. The entire thing had almost the air of a sporting event or a show, until a loud series of strikes on a bell were made. The sound of the giant bell echoed around the room, and people hastily took their seats.
"All be seated and silent! The next round of the Great Selection is about to begin. All voters on the honorable council of experts, take your seats and prepare to vote now," the Master of the Selection bellowed. Once everyone was seated and the room was quiet, the Master of the Selection summoned the four remaining candidates to the dais. "The candidates will now give their final statements before the vote."
Yauhmi and Tepilcayotl's statements were both brief, highlighting their experience and accomplishments, denouncing the interference and lies aimed at their campaigns, and promising a bright future for the Xiomeran Empire while maintaining much its present course.
Cozamalotl, knowing he had lost, gave a longer statement. "The Xiomeran Empire, much like it had in the days before the Great Reformation of the Emperor Achcauhyotl in 1807, has become stagnant, corrupt and has begun to decline, no matter what my opponents say," he declared. "A new Great Reformation is needed. We must change this nation, or it will collapse and fail. We already know what the outcome of this election will be - it will be to maintain the status quo. There was not much doubt about that. But there is a better way, and while it may not happen today, it will and must happen someday. The four tribes of Huenya, and our Teyatia brothers and sisters, will remain silent no longer. This nation must change, one way or another. I ran in this election hoping to be the last Emperor Xiomera ever had," Cozamalotl added, looking pointedly at the other three people on the dais. "I still hope that this election, one way or another, will result in the last person to occupy the Obsidian Throne."
To shocked silence, Cozamalotl calmly walked off the dais. With the result sealed, there was no reason to maintain the charade.
The last person to speak, Xocolcōza, wasn't content to let Cozamalotl be the only person to shock the audience and the voters. "I ran in the Great Selection because I believe that the business and technology leaders of Xiomera can contribute a lot more to how this nation is run. I still believe that. But the voters on this council, and the public, have made their voices heard. I am not their choice. I respect that. But I still desire to serve this great nation and its people. So I am withdrawing from the Great Selection."
As gasps and shocked comments reverberated around the room, Xocolcōza turned to his right. "I am stepping aside, and I am privileged to give my endorsement to the person I believe is best suited to lead this great Empire, in cooperation with its business community - Yauhmi, the once and future Empress of Xiomera!"
As the room erupted, the Master of the Selection desperately struggled to quiet everyone. Standing to the far right, Tepilcayotl leveled a glare at Xocolcōza that sent a message just for him, and clear as day: I will kill you for this.
Xocolcōza's answering smirk sent Tepilcayotl a message of its own: You might try.
The vote was thus anticlimactic. With Xocolcōza out of the race, and Cozamalotl's act of defiance, the vote went as it would go. "Ladies and gentlemen, please congratulate our final two candidates for the Obsidian Throne, Yauhmi and Tepilcayotl!" the Master of the Selection said after the votes were counted.
---
Watching the final result from a nearby room, Cozamalotl shook his head in a mixture of bemusement and profound sadness. Xocolcōza's sudden decision to quit the race was no coincidence. What did Yauhmi do to convince him? he wondered, before walking out.
The answer to that was found in a brief meeting before the vote began.
---
Private meeting room, Huēyi Teōcalli
Thirty minutes before the vote for the final round
"A deal." Yauhmi chuckled softly. "I am already tied with the other frontrunner in this race. Your numbers are...let's just say, not impressive." The former Empress laughed. "What could you possibly have to offer me?"
Xocolcōza sighed. "Let's be reasonable, madam. I will lose this vote, we both know that. But you're neck and neck with Tepilcayotl. You need every edge you can get. And I control the business community of Xiomera. I failed as a candidate - they didn't fail in support. If you give me what I want, I will throw the entire weight of the Xiomeran corporate world behind you. Including social media, advertising, newspapers, radio and TV. Tepilcayotl won't stand a chance if I back you. In financial support alone, the members of the Xiomeran Business Association - which I control, remember - can outspend Tepilcayotl 100 to 1 with the voters and with the public. You need the business community to become Empress, and to govern once you win. We need you as well - we see that now. A deal makes sense for all of us," Xocolcōza said.
"That is indeed an enticing offer," Yauhmi said calmly. "But you publicly supported the rumor that I cheated on my husband. Why should I forgive you? Or trust you, for that matter?"
Xocolcōza smirked at that. "You don't need to forgive me, or trust me. When have any of those things mattered in Xiomeran politics? I can be of use to you...and you can be of use to me. That's what matters, isn't it?"
Yauhmi chuckled again. "Point taken. But nothing comes for free - especially with a shark like you. What do you want in return for this generous offer?"
Xocolcōza snapped his fingers. "I want to be Secretary for Trade. You have to get rid of Tlanextia anyway, she backed Cozamalotl and is a reformer. Also, I want to get to choose who the next Secretary of the Environment and Secretary of Infrastructure are. And the Secretary of Scientific Development, to replace Cozamalotl when you get rid of him. Those are positions vital to the interests of the business community, and the XBA needs to make sure someone who puts Xiomeran businesses first is in these spots."
Yauhmi frowned. "Four Cabinet spots? You don't play for small wagers."
Xocolcōza smiled. "None of us do. But four Cabinet seats are a small price to pay to secure the Obsidian Throne, and make sure the business community has your back and keeps your purse full, now aren't they? Besides, you must know that Tepilcayotl will throw everything he can at you to try to win. He controls ASI, and through his friendship with Xochiqui, he controls the military as well. You need strong people in your corner more than ever now. This is actually the most dangerous part of your bid for the throne. Tepilcayotl is so close he can feel his backside on the Obsidian Throne. He won't hesitate if he can find a way to defeat you - no matter how nasty."
"True enough. But why should I trust that you won't betray me to Tepilcayotl in the end?"
Xocolcōza laughed. "Tepilcayotl hates me. He's threatened to kill me more than once, as you know. He did it once right in front of Topilpopoca, as I am sure your husband told you." Yauhmi nodded, remembering that conversation with her husband at the end of the day.
"Tepilcayotl, if he becomes Emperor, will kill me. I am convinced of that. And if you think he won't find a pretext to get rid of you too....this is another reason we need each other, Empress," Xocolcōza said calmly. "So....do we have a deal?"
Yauhmi's slow answering smile provided the answer.
Tlālacuetztla, Xiomera
Tepilcayotl looked over the report, his eyes narrowing. "Is this information accurate?" he said finally, looking up from the tablet screen.
Xotōch, the Undersecretary for Counterintelligence, gave a soft snort of annoyance. "My information is always accurate, sir. You know this," he said with a tone of gentle rebuke.
"I know, Xotōch. This is just.....you are certain this surge of social media posts promoting Yauhmi and spreading rumors about me being connected to Letitia Greenwood are originating from foreign sources?" Tepilcayotl said grimly.
"Yes. We have not been quite able to narrow down the country of origin just yet. But as this sort of thing often goes....the foreign sources planting the media planted a seed - a seed of misinformation. Now local Xiomeran sources are running with it and spreading it along. The more you try to stomp it out, the more it grows." Xotōch sighed again, picking up his own tablet and sending some additional data to the tablet belonging to his bosses. "But there's more. The posts going after Yauhmi - the ones alleging she had an affair - those originated from a different foreign source. And the weird surge of posts promoting Cozamalotl out of nowhere - yet another source. We are the target of multiple foreign interventions. The Great Selection is being hacked."
"I know about some of this already," Tepilcayotl said, waving away the information about hackers helping him with a gesture. Xotōch simply nodded. "But the rest of this....these other hackers.....I want to know who they are. There will be repercussions for this....whether I am still in this office or not."
Xotōch raised an eyebrow. "Are you planning a vacation, sir?"
Tepilcayotl raised an eyebrow of his own. "Don't be deliberately obtuse. If I win the election, I move on from this office to become Emperor. If I lose....I move on from this office into obscurity. Or nothingness," the Security Secretary said, eyeing a ceremonial dagger hanging in a frame on the wall above Xotōch.
Xotōch simply nodded again; he knew what Xiomera expected of those who were defeated. When you risked it all for power, either you won, or you ended.
"Either way, Xotōch....I am not going to let this stand. If I lose...I intend to recommend you as my replacement, to whoever does become the next Emperor. If I win, I will just put you in charge of security. Either way, if the gods favor Xiomera, you'll be sitting where I am now. Find out who hacked the Great Selection, and make sure they receive a lesson on what happens when you trifle with the Xiomeran Empire. For my sake," Tepilcayotl said quietly. "However, I don't plan to lose just yet. I have the power of the entire Xiomeran intelligence service at my disposal. I intend to use it. Begin countering all this nonsense about me at once."
Xotōch bowed in respect, as Tepilcayotl rose from his chair to travel to the Huēyi Teōcalli. The next vote was scheduled to begin soon.
---
Palace of Flowers
Montelin, Xiomera
In the Golden Chamber, Yauhmi sat and had her usual morning cup of coffee. While her investigative resources were nowhere as extensive as those of her rival Tepilcayotl, she had her own ways of finding out what she needed to know.
"I am unamused at whoever would dare to claim that I would betray my marriage vows," she said calmly. A soft sip from her teacup underscored her words. Texōccoatl, her son, and Tehuatl, her campaign manager, nodded in response. "Your speech has managed to reverse much of the damage caused by that lie - especially since no one has come forward to claim they are the man in question," Tehuatl said. She tapped her tablet, scrolling down to review the latest numbers. "Most people being polled now believe the accusation is a dirty trick. Your support helped a lot with that also," Tehuatl added while looking at Texōccoatl. "I think we can get past it."
"Perhaps. But I do not intend to simply get past it," Yauhmi said coolly as she put down her teacup. She waved her hand at the man who had silently been standing behind her, observing the conversation. Ixatli, her personal bodyguard and a former ASI agent, dropped to one knee in respect as Yauhmi looked at him. "Begin trying to find out who spread these lies about me. I will not rest until I show whoever is responsible that one does not slander an Empress of Xiomera. I am the sun of this golden land, and I will burn whoever did this to my reputation and to the honor of my marriage."
Ixatli nodded, standing up to leave. His connections with ASI would serve him well as he began his hunt.
Tehuatl and Texōccoatl smiled at Yauhmi's confidence. She clearly believed she was going to triumph in the Great Selection - not a shred of doubt could be found in her demeanor or her words. "My father chose well, Mother," Texōccoatl said as he held a hand for Yauhmi to rise from her chair. "You have the strength of the gods in you."
"And the goddesses, Texōccoatl," Yauhmi chuckled softly. "Don't forget them. Let us head to the Huēyi Teōcalli. It is time for the next vote to begin."
---
The Xōhuitlto
Tlālacuetztla, Xiomera
"It wasn't enough. In the end, it just wasn't enough."
Natcuahuacu, Cozamalotl's campaign manager, sighed softly. "In the end, it does not appear that we have been able to convince enough of the voters on the ihuicatl to advance you to the next round. The fearmongering by Tepilcayotl and Yauhmi, the social media onslaught, the sheer inertia of a complacent populace, the damned corruption and vote-buying in the ihuicatl..."
The Necatli woman fought back tears as she laid the tablet down on the desk. "By our calculations.....both you and Xocolcōza will be voted out in the next round. Tepilcayotl and Yauhmi will advance to the final round of the Great Selection," Natcuahuacu said somberly.
The sitting room in Cozamalotl's home was silent as a morgue, until a voice finally broke the silence. "This is not a defeat."
Cozamalotl stood up, firmly rapping the table. "Hear me well, all of you. This is not a defeat."
He looked at each person in the room. "Do you know what has happened here? For the first time, we have been able to broadcast an uninterrupted message of reform and change to every Xiomeran. Where XUN and HNN failed, where underground efforts failed...we did it, here and now. The Great Selection has been broadcast all over Xiomera - all over the world. And throughout this travesty of an election, we have been able to show every Xiomeran what we stand for. We have been able to show the world just how corrupt and cruel the Empire is. We have shown people there is a better path for this country to take - and the idiots in the government gave us the means to do it. The reform movement is out of the shadows now. We have shown everyone that we are not terrorists and radicals as the government claims. We have shown that we are just people - people who know there is a better path than repression and tyranny. And we have shown that we are not afraid of the government."
Cozamalotl stood straighter, his demeanor hardly that of someone who had just been handed a defeat. "They will come for us, after this election. Do not doubt it. The message we spread during this election will be the final nail in the coffin of the Xiomeran Empire. And they know it. They won't let us just walk away. But we knew that when we made this bid. We knew we wouldn't win, likely as not. But this isn't about this one sham election to replace one tyrant with another. This is about the future."
Cozamalotl turned around the room, eyeing everyone. "I see gathered before me all the tribes of Huenya - Itotemoc, Necatli, Tepiltzin and, yes, Xiomeran. I see Teyatia. I see people from other lands who became part of us. I see different ages, races, genders, religions. I see what the true heart of this country is, here in this room. When they do come for us, they will realize then just what a grave mistake they have made in this so-called Great Selection. But it will be far too late for them then. We have started the wheel of time turning, and someday, it will lead to change."
"I will never be Emperor. I knew that going into this. I never wanted to be Emperor - I don't even want Emperors to exist. I would rather make the Obsidian Throne into some jewelry to sell tourists than sit on the damned thing. But I have achieved my goal. I have planted a seed which, if we are lucky, will lead to the end of the Empire. I may not be alive to see it - but it will happen. So no crying or sadness, any of you. We have lost a battle. The war is just beginning. It is a war for the soul of the people of Huenya - and we will win. Now let's go to the Huēyi Teōcalli, and show the tyrants that free people are rising."
As the people in the room broke out into cheers, Cozamalotl's eyes met those of Huitzilhuani, on the other side of the room. He nodded to her, and received an answering smile in return.
---
XBA Tower
Xiomeran Business Association headquarters
Downtown Tlālacuetztla
"It's over." A single flat voice echoed out into the conference room.
Xocolcōza shook his head. "We still have a reasonable chance. If we can get control of the message on social media, swing back some of the voters in the ihuicatl who dropped support for my bid unexpectedly, offer bigger incentives than they got to switch sides..."
"Just stop, Xocolcōza." Zaxōc, CEO of Mizhua Corporation, shook his head disdainfully. "You're polling with the general public at three percent. Three percent! You're not even close to that loser Cozamalotl, much less the two frontrunners." Zaxōc shook his head again. "The numbers among the voters on the council are no better - you will not advance further, they have made that painfully clear. We have to accept that we made a bad bet here, and that this plan to put you in the Obsidian Throne is not going to work."
Before Xocolcōza could mount any further protest, Mezcalinzi, the CEO of ISTC, coughed softly. "We already voted before you even arrived to this meeting, Xocolcōza. In order to avoid offending whoever becomes Emperor now, and to salvage what we can out of this mess in order to protect our business interests, we will not support your bid further," he said.
"So what exactly do you expect me to do now, other than get my ass handed to me in this next vote?" Xocolcōza said bitterly.
"What we do best," Tlitiaya, the CEO of Coltec Automotive Corporation, said calmly. "Find the best partner to connect with, and make a deal."
---
Huēyi Teōcalli
Tlālacuetztla, Xiomera
One hour later
The great sacred hall of the Huēyi Teōcalli was abuzz with activity. The voters of the council of experts, those still seeking to lobby them or strike last-minute deals before the next vote, and the running of people delivering messages and notes back and forth dominated the central floor. Above and around the central floor, the ancient seats were lined with media, foreign and Xiomeran dignitaries, and select members of the public. The entire thing had almost the air of a sporting event or a show, until a loud series of strikes on a bell were made. The sound of the giant bell echoed around the room, and people hastily took their seats.
"All be seated and silent! The next round of the Great Selection is about to begin. All voters on the honorable council of experts, take your seats and prepare to vote now," the Master of the Selection bellowed. Once everyone was seated and the room was quiet, the Master of the Selection summoned the four remaining candidates to the dais. "The candidates will now give their final statements before the vote."
Yauhmi and Tepilcayotl's statements were both brief, highlighting their experience and accomplishments, denouncing the interference and lies aimed at their campaigns, and promising a bright future for the Xiomeran Empire while maintaining much its present course.
Cozamalotl, knowing he had lost, gave a longer statement. "The Xiomeran Empire, much like it had in the days before the Great Reformation of the Emperor Achcauhyotl in 1807, has become stagnant, corrupt and has begun to decline, no matter what my opponents say," he declared. "A new Great Reformation is needed. We must change this nation, or it will collapse and fail. We already know what the outcome of this election will be - it will be to maintain the status quo. There was not much doubt about that. But there is a better way, and while it may not happen today, it will and must happen someday. The four tribes of Huenya, and our Teyatia brothers and sisters, will remain silent no longer. This nation must change, one way or another. I ran in this election hoping to be the last Emperor Xiomera ever had," Cozamalotl added, looking pointedly at the other three people on the dais. "I still hope that this election, one way or another, will result in the last person to occupy the Obsidian Throne."
To shocked silence, Cozamalotl calmly walked off the dais. With the result sealed, there was no reason to maintain the charade.
The last person to speak, Xocolcōza, wasn't content to let Cozamalotl be the only person to shock the audience and the voters. "I ran in the Great Selection because I believe that the business and technology leaders of Xiomera can contribute a lot more to how this nation is run. I still believe that. But the voters on this council, and the public, have made their voices heard. I am not their choice. I respect that. But I still desire to serve this great nation and its people. So I am withdrawing from the Great Selection."
As gasps and shocked comments reverberated around the room, Xocolcōza turned to his right. "I am stepping aside, and I am privileged to give my endorsement to the person I believe is best suited to lead this great Empire, in cooperation with its business community - Yauhmi, the once and future Empress of Xiomera!"
As the room erupted, the Master of the Selection desperately struggled to quiet everyone. Standing to the far right, Tepilcayotl leveled a glare at Xocolcōza that sent a message just for him, and clear as day: I will kill you for this.
Xocolcōza's answering smirk sent Tepilcayotl a message of its own: You might try.
The vote was thus anticlimactic. With Xocolcōza out of the race, and Cozamalotl's act of defiance, the vote went as it would go. "Ladies and gentlemen, please congratulate our final two candidates for the Obsidian Throne, Yauhmi and Tepilcayotl!" the Master of the Selection said after the votes were counted.
---
Watching the final result from a nearby room, Cozamalotl shook his head in a mixture of bemusement and profound sadness. Xocolcōza's sudden decision to quit the race was no coincidence. What did Yauhmi do to convince him? he wondered, before walking out.
The answer to that was found in a brief meeting before the vote began.
---
Private meeting room, Huēyi Teōcalli
Thirty minutes before the vote for the final round
"A deal." Yauhmi chuckled softly. "I am already tied with the other frontrunner in this race. Your numbers are...let's just say, not impressive." The former Empress laughed. "What could you possibly have to offer me?"
Xocolcōza sighed. "Let's be reasonable, madam. I will lose this vote, we both know that. But you're neck and neck with Tepilcayotl. You need every edge you can get. And I control the business community of Xiomera. I failed as a candidate - they didn't fail in support. If you give me what I want, I will throw the entire weight of the Xiomeran corporate world behind you. Including social media, advertising, newspapers, radio and TV. Tepilcayotl won't stand a chance if I back you. In financial support alone, the members of the Xiomeran Business Association - which I control, remember - can outspend Tepilcayotl 100 to 1 with the voters and with the public. You need the business community to become Empress, and to govern once you win. We need you as well - we see that now. A deal makes sense for all of us," Xocolcōza said.
"That is indeed an enticing offer," Yauhmi said calmly. "But you publicly supported the rumor that I cheated on my husband. Why should I forgive you? Or trust you, for that matter?"
Xocolcōza smirked at that. "You don't need to forgive me, or trust me. When have any of those things mattered in Xiomeran politics? I can be of use to you...and you can be of use to me. That's what matters, isn't it?"
Yauhmi chuckled again. "Point taken. But nothing comes for free - especially with a shark like you. What do you want in return for this generous offer?"
Xocolcōza snapped his fingers. "I want to be Secretary for Trade. You have to get rid of Tlanextia anyway, she backed Cozamalotl and is a reformer. Also, I want to get to choose who the next Secretary of the Environment and Secretary of Infrastructure are. And the Secretary of Scientific Development, to replace Cozamalotl when you get rid of him. Those are positions vital to the interests of the business community, and the XBA needs to make sure someone who puts Xiomeran businesses first is in these spots."
Yauhmi frowned. "Four Cabinet spots? You don't play for small wagers."
Xocolcōza smiled. "None of us do. But four Cabinet seats are a small price to pay to secure the Obsidian Throne, and make sure the business community has your back and keeps your purse full, now aren't they? Besides, you must know that Tepilcayotl will throw everything he can at you to try to win. He controls ASI, and through his friendship with Xochiqui, he controls the military as well. You need strong people in your corner more than ever now. This is actually the most dangerous part of your bid for the throne. Tepilcayotl is so close he can feel his backside on the Obsidian Throne. He won't hesitate if he can find a way to defeat you - no matter how nasty."
"True enough. But why should I trust that you won't betray me to Tepilcayotl in the end?"
Xocolcōza laughed. "Tepilcayotl hates me. He's threatened to kill me more than once, as you know. He did it once right in front of Topilpopoca, as I am sure your husband told you." Yauhmi nodded, remembering that conversation with her husband at the end of the day.
"Tepilcayotl, if he becomes Emperor, will kill me. I am convinced of that. And if you think he won't find a pretext to get rid of you too....this is another reason we need each other, Empress," Xocolcōza said calmly. "So....do we have a deal?"
Yauhmi's slow answering smile provided the answer.
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