05-28-2026, 03:01 AM
Ketsalli restaurant, Chuaztlapoc
Private dining room
May 15th, 2026
"There's nothing else for it. We have to convince him to run," Ilhuicacihuatl said. She sighed irritably as she spooned sugar into her coffee. "I know that's not what either of you are wanting to hear, but you didn't hire either of us to mislead you."
Sitting next to Ilhuicacihuatl, Tochnehnemi issued his own slightly exasperated sigh. Tapping his fork against his plate pensively, he looked at the two men sitting across from him. "I hate to agree with her, seeing as I also hate her," Tochnehnemi said coolly. Ignoring the tongue that Ilhuicacihuatl stuck out at him, he continued. "If you both continue to run separate campaigns, as you are now, Xiadani is going to beat you both by at least fifteen points. And that's the number from the pollster that's friendly to us. You don't want to see the other numbers."
One of the men at the other end of the table adjusted his already perfectly-tied tie, shaking his head. "Unbelievable. It's really come to this." Popol, the presidential candidate for the Huenyan Conservative Party, took a large sip of wine from his wine glass. The other man next to him frowned at that. Acxopotl, presidential candidate of the Party of Huitzilopochtli, took a rather ostentatious sip from his glass of water in response. Popol rolled his eyes at the gesture. Seeing this, his campaign manager Tochnehnemi intervened to prevent yet another in a well-worn series of arguments between the two. "If we want to win, and for our parties to have any chance of boosting their own numbers in the Legislature to keep the Unificationists from steamrolling us, this is the only way. It sucks, but it is reality."
The other man across from them looked angry, unlike the resigned expression Popol had on his face. "Ilhuicacihuatl, do you agree? Do I really have no chance at all?" Acxopotl's expression, despite being angry like it often was, carried a faint hint of pleading as well. Ilhuicacihuatl shook her head bluntly. "Even if Popol dropped out alone, which he won't, the best you're likely to do against Xiadani is a fifteen to twenty point loss. It could even be worse. I also hate it, but if we want our parties to be anything more than a speed bump to the Unificationists, this is our only shot." Acxopotl was clearly stunned by her bluntness, but after a moment, nodded. "Then let us enact your brilliant plan. If you can make it work."
Ilhuicacihuatl and Tochnehnemi looked at each other briefly, realizing that they had just gotten their way. But sitting across from two of the most powerful men in Huenyan politics, something about being careful what you wished for couldn't help but run through their heads.
---
Press conference, outside the Tecpancalli Tonaltzintli
May 16th, 2026
"This is not a decision we make lightly," Popol said. Standing at a podium with the Huenyan flag draped on it, the Conservative candidate cut an elegant figure. On looks alone, he was exactly what a casting director would pick for someone playing president in a movie. Right down to the distinguished-looking gray at his temples and perfectly cut suit. The irony that such a perfect-looking candidate was basically handing his role to another escaped no one, including Popol. But he continued.
"Huenya's future is more important than any two men, or two parties. President Xiadani and the Unification Party cannot simply be given a blank check to run the country with no real opposition, or checks on their power. For a democracy to work, there must be a meaningful opposition. So today, the Conservative Party and the Party of Huitzilopochtli are joining forces. And we are making a personal appeal to the one leader in Huenya who has a chance at preventing us from becoming a defacto one-party state."
Popol gestured to Acxopotl, who was standing next to him. Acxopotl stood in front of the microphone, lights glaring on his clean-shaven head. "We are bringing two great parties together, in order to draft one great man. Director Cuetlancaona of the FIS, we know you're watching this press conference. So we are appealing to you, as a son of Huenya and a patriot, to take up our banner and run for president with us. Both Popol and myself are willing to step aside on your behalf, and put all of the resources of both our parties behind you. You're the one person who can help us ensure that Huenyan democracy and representative politics are protected. Milintica showed the dangers of being a one-party state. Huenya must avoid that fate. And Director Cuetlancaona, we know you can save our country from that. We'll be waiting for your call."
Acxopotl and Popol stood in front of the podium, hands raised together in what they hoped was an optimistically triumphant pose. "God, your hands are sweaty," Popol murmured disdainfully through his smile. "Shut up, you soft little drunk," Acxopotl murmured back through his own smile as they posed for the cameras.
As the two of them posed outside the Huenyan presidential residence, a curtain rustled slightly in an upper window. President Xiadani sat back down at her desk, thinking. After a moment, she picked up her phone. "We have a problem," she told the person on the other end of the line. "I need you and Yacanqui here in an hour."
Precisely an hour later, the two people that the President had summoned arrived. They were not a minute late, as Xiadani was notorious for disliking tardiness. Natcahuacu, the Chair of the Unification Party, took one seat in front of the large wooden desk. Yacanqui, Xiadani's campaign manager, took the other seat. Xiadani closed the lid to her laptop, looking steadily at them both. "I trust you both saw that press conference?"
Yacanqui nodded. "Sure did. Rather bold of them, to do it right on your front steps."
"It's a hollow gesture. They're trying to seem strong and unafraid, which doesn't really go well with their current messaging. 'Oh, big strong Director Cuetlancaona, save us from the monsters we can't actually defeat with our lousy campaigns.' Not exactly pictures of confidence," Natcahuacu said as he rolled his eyes.
"Perhaps. But we can't take them for granted. If they manage to somehow convince Cuetlancaona to take their offer, it changes everything. His poll numbers are ridiculously good for someone who isn't even running officially. He could pose a real threat to the President." Yacanqui took out her own laptop to begin taking notes. "We need to consider either warning Cuetlancaona off, or having a plan ready to weaken him if he does run."
"A plan? What kind of plan?" Xiadani's expression turned skeptical as Yacanqui continued. "Well, you could always indirectly or directly demand that he not run to remain FIS Director - privately, of course. We can also research some negative campaigning approaches. See if there's anything dirty or harmful in the Director's past that could hurt him politically. We could also 'find' such things if needed," Yacanqui continued, slowing as Xiadani's expression continued to shift. "Or, we could just redirect some of your negatives to him. We know that there are some in the electorate who blame you for the Golden Blade insurgency kicking off as badly as it did. He was FIS Director at the time, and would make a nice juicy target to bounce that blame to - "
Yacanqui suddenly halted as Xiadani raised her hand. "No. We are not going to do anything that weakens Cuetlancaona." Before either Yacanqui or Natcahuacu could object, Xiadani raised her hand again. "Cuetlancaona has done a superb job as FIS Director. We know that. More importantly, the voters know that. How can you be sure that people won't just see right through such tactics, and blame us for the smears?" Xiadani shook her head. "More to the point, even if he runs, I can take him. And after that election, I still have to work with the man. We still need him at FIS. Anything that weakens him in his role with the agency weakens Huenya. I don't want that on my conscience, when I can win this thing without it."
"So then...um...what do you want us to do?" Yacanqui said after a long pause.
"Just keep running the campaign as it is. Do not go negative, not even a little. You can hit the Conservatives and the PH for being so electorally weak that they had to pull this stunt in the first place, but that's it. Otherwise, focus on our accomplishments and our platform. That's the route we need to take," the President said firmly and confidently. "As for Cuetlancaona, I will handle that matter directly."
After another long pause, Yacanqui nodded. She stood up and left with Natcahuacu. The two of them exchanged a look as they exited the office that Xiadani recognized. It bore the same skepticism that the President had on her own face just a moment earlier. When she was alone, the President sighed. She was going to have to make another call later that day.
---
Eztic Tower 3 residential block, Ixtenco
Five hours later
Five black SUVs pulled up at the entrance of Eztic Tower 3. FIS agents in black suits with blue ties exited two of them, forming a tight security perimeter. Two of the other SUVs disgorged another set of similarly clad FIS agents, as a single man exited the one in the middle of the convoy. FIS Director Cuetlancaona smiled and greeted the doormen as he entered the tower, followed by his security detail. The group boarded the two elevators in the lobby, using special keys to redirect them both only to the top floor.
At the top of the tower, Cuetlancaona went inside his residence. The penthouse suite at Eztic 3 had been chosen both for its comforts, and its security. The Eztic tower block housed many important Huenyans and foreigners, and had top-notch security to include bulletproof windows and blast-resistant doors. FIS even maintained agents on top of Tower 3 with anti-aircraft missiles, in case someone decided to go after the FIS Director from the air. All of the security and duties attached to his role vanished, though, once he got inside.
"Tatsin!" A young girl came rushing to the entrance, throwing her arms around Cuetlancaona. "Well, hello, Yoyontli," he said as he wrapped his daughter up in a giant hug. "How are you doing, love?" Yoyontli proceeded to tell her father how she was doing and literally everything that had happened to her that day. A soft chuckle from the living room interrupted the girl's rapid-fire speech. "Your father just got home, let him rest a bit, child. Go wash up for dinner." Animitl, Cuetlancaona's wife, gently ushered her daughter off to wash up before giving Cuetlancaona a hug of her own. "Glad you're home," she said.
"I'm glad to be home. It's been a day. Had to deal with a residual Golden Blade cell in Aquiyahuatl, and the leftover mess from our Milintican intervention." Cuetlancaona sighed as he shrugged off his suit and began loosening his tie.
"And some people trying to draft you for president," Animitl replied with a mischievous smirk on her face. Cuetlancaona sighed again, pausing mid-tie-removal. "There was also that, yes."
"Have you....thought about that?" Animitl asked. Cuetlancaona shrugged. "It's tempting, I won't lie. I know I could win, if I ran. And I know I could do the job."
"I heard a but there," Animitl said. Cuetlancaona chuckled; she really knew him too well. "There are several buts. FIS is still doing extremely important work, and still learning how to do it. We've only been an intelligence agency for a couple of years now, going up against countries who have been playing the spy game forever. Especially the Empire. I don't know how I feel about leaving that - it's not a complete task. There's also the other questions that go along with this. Would I do a better job than Xiadani, or at least as good as she's done? Has she done anything, or not done anything, that is worth her losing her job? Also...men like Popol and Acxopotl are hardly the generous or self-sacrificing sort. What if they expect to be the power behind the throne? What if they expect to be able to control me, or puppeteer me, once I get elected? That would be a problem."
"You could appoint someone at FIS to make sure the job continues to get done right, and be in an even stronger position to protect Huenya as president," Animitl said calmly. "And you would make a damn fine president, if I do say so myself. And I do," Animitl smirked, earning another laugh from Cuetlancaona. "But you're right...Xiadani hasn't done anything that disqualifies her. I still think her heavy-handed response to the insurgents triggered the last big uprising. But if the rumors are true, it's also her threat to stuff a nuke down Calhualyana's throat that ended the insurgency. So there's that." Animitl paused. "I know you probably won't answer me...but are those rumors true?"
Cuetlancaona simply smiled and tapped his lips silently. Animitl smirked back. "Of course. So what else is making your decision hard?"
"The biggest reason of all. There are already people out there who want me dead, being FIS Director." Cuetlancaona looked around his apartment, eyeing the bulletproof windows and contemplating the security gauntlet around his residence. "If I become president, that only gets worse. You and Yoyontli would be even more at risk."
"There's no reward without risk. I knew that when I married you," Animitl replied. "You will protect us, as always. And it's not like I'm unfamiliar with how to protect myself or Yoyontli." Cuetlancaona nodded in agreement; Animitl had fought on the side of Huenya during the Civil War, earning a medal for her actions at Chuaztlapoc in defense of Yauhmi. She wasn't, by definition, a typical housewife. Cuetlancaona placed his head on Animitl's shoulder as she gave him a hug. "Whatever you decide to do, president or not, we're going to be right here with you."
A soft ping interrupted their hug. "Director? There is a call coming in from the Tecpancalli Tonaltzintli. It's the President," a voice echoed over the intercom. Cuetlancaona stepped back slightly, looking at Animitl. "Don't let her grill you," she said with a grin. Cuetlancaona smiled as he went into his private office.
Once seated at his desk, Cuetlancaona steeled himself before answering the call. "Madam President," he said in a neutral voice. Xiadani smiled slightly on the screen. "Director. I hope I am not interrupting you. I know you're at home with your family, so I'll keep this brief."
Here it comes, Cuetlancaona thought. He had done enough interrogations to feel like he knew when one was beginning. But to his surprise, Xiadani's usual smile turned into something warmer. "We've worked well together over the past few years. We've worked to keep Huenya safe, helped it become more secure, and thwarted a bunch of Imperial schemes along the way. I think thwarting those schemes was my favorite part."
Cuetlancaona smiled despite himself, as Xiadani continued. "If you decide to run for president, I will run a hard campaign against you. But I will keep it decent. No lies, no smears, no personal attacks, no diving into the mud. All I ask is that you do the same." The FIS Director nodded as Xiadani continued. "I want to make sure that no matter what, whether as president or continuing as FIS Director, that you can do your job without being tarnished. Just extend me the same courtesy, and we'll be good."
"I agree. I have no wish to tarnish you either. Just so you know, I haven't decided if I am even running yet."
"I figured as much." Xiadani smiled again. "I honestly do not intend to try to influence your decision or place undue pressure on you. There are some that would like me to, but that's not how I want to be in power. Whatever you decide, I want us to be fair to each other so that we can both continue to serve Huenya no matter how this all plays out. As for your decision...sleep on it. Don't decide now. I'll hear about it like everyone else, on the news. Have a good night, Director."
Cuetlancaona nodded, a bemused smile on his face, as Xiadani ended the call. That went better than I expected. His always-analytical mind processed the call. Did Xiadani really mean it, or was she playing nice to throw him off? Cuetlancaona was, by sheer necessity, a very good judge of character. But this was a challenge to read even for him. The FIS Director continued to think as he went out into his apartment to have dinner with his family.
Private dining room
May 15th, 2026
"There's nothing else for it. We have to convince him to run," Ilhuicacihuatl said. She sighed irritably as she spooned sugar into her coffee. "I know that's not what either of you are wanting to hear, but you didn't hire either of us to mislead you."
Sitting next to Ilhuicacihuatl, Tochnehnemi issued his own slightly exasperated sigh. Tapping his fork against his plate pensively, he looked at the two men sitting across from him. "I hate to agree with her, seeing as I also hate her," Tochnehnemi said coolly. Ignoring the tongue that Ilhuicacihuatl stuck out at him, he continued. "If you both continue to run separate campaigns, as you are now, Xiadani is going to beat you both by at least fifteen points. And that's the number from the pollster that's friendly to us. You don't want to see the other numbers."
One of the men at the other end of the table adjusted his already perfectly-tied tie, shaking his head. "Unbelievable. It's really come to this." Popol, the presidential candidate for the Huenyan Conservative Party, took a large sip of wine from his wine glass. The other man next to him frowned at that. Acxopotl, presidential candidate of the Party of Huitzilopochtli, took a rather ostentatious sip from his glass of water in response. Popol rolled his eyes at the gesture. Seeing this, his campaign manager Tochnehnemi intervened to prevent yet another in a well-worn series of arguments between the two. "If we want to win, and for our parties to have any chance of boosting their own numbers in the Legislature to keep the Unificationists from steamrolling us, this is the only way. It sucks, but it is reality."
The other man across from them looked angry, unlike the resigned expression Popol had on his face. "Ilhuicacihuatl, do you agree? Do I really have no chance at all?" Acxopotl's expression, despite being angry like it often was, carried a faint hint of pleading as well. Ilhuicacihuatl shook her head bluntly. "Even if Popol dropped out alone, which he won't, the best you're likely to do against Xiadani is a fifteen to twenty point loss. It could even be worse. I also hate it, but if we want our parties to be anything more than a speed bump to the Unificationists, this is our only shot." Acxopotl was clearly stunned by her bluntness, but after a moment, nodded. "Then let us enact your brilliant plan. If you can make it work."
Ilhuicacihuatl and Tochnehnemi looked at each other briefly, realizing that they had just gotten their way. But sitting across from two of the most powerful men in Huenyan politics, something about being careful what you wished for couldn't help but run through their heads.
---
Press conference, outside the Tecpancalli Tonaltzintli
May 16th, 2026
"This is not a decision we make lightly," Popol said. Standing at a podium with the Huenyan flag draped on it, the Conservative candidate cut an elegant figure. On looks alone, he was exactly what a casting director would pick for someone playing president in a movie. Right down to the distinguished-looking gray at his temples and perfectly cut suit. The irony that such a perfect-looking candidate was basically handing his role to another escaped no one, including Popol. But he continued.
"Huenya's future is more important than any two men, or two parties. President Xiadani and the Unification Party cannot simply be given a blank check to run the country with no real opposition, or checks on their power. For a democracy to work, there must be a meaningful opposition. So today, the Conservative Party and the Party of Huitzilopochtli are joining forces. And we are making a personal appeal to the one leader in Huenya who has a chance at preventing us from becoming a defacto one-party state."
Popol gestured to Acxopotl, who was standing next to him. Acxopotl stood in front of the microphone, lights glaring on his clean-shaven head. "We are bringing two great parties together, in order to draft one great man. Director Cuetlancaona of the FIS, we know you're watching this press conference. So we are appealing to you, as a son of Huenya and a patriot, to take up our banner and run for president with us. Both Popol and myself are willing to step aside on your behalf, and put all of the resources of both our parties behind you. You're the one person who can help us ensure that Huenyan democracy and representative politics are protected. Milintica showed the dangers of being a one-party state. Huenya must avoid that fate. And Director Cuetlancaona, we know you can save our country from that. We'll be waiting for your call."
Acxopotl and Popol stood in front of the podium, hands raised together in what they hoped was an optimistically triumphant pose. "God, your hands are sweaty," Popol murmured disdainfully through his smile. "Shut up, you soft little drunk," Acxopotl murmured back through his own smile as they posed for the cameras.
As the two of them posed outside the Huenyan presidential residence, a curtain rustled slightly in an upper window. President Xiadani sat back down at her desk, thinking. After a moment, she picked up her phone. "We have a problem," she told the person on the other end of the line. "I need you and Yacanqui here in an hour."
Precisely an hour later, the two people that the President had summoned arrived. They were not a minute late, as Xiadani was notorious for disliking tardiness. Natcahuacu, the Chair of the Unification Party, took one seat in front of the large wooden desk. Yacanqui, Xiadani's campaign manager, took the other seat. Xiadani closed the lid to her laptop, looking steadily at them both. "I trust you both saw that press conference?"
Yacanqui nodded. "Sure did. Rather bold of them, to do it right on your front steps."
"It's a hollow gesture. They're trying to seem strong and unafraid, which doesn't really go well with their current messaging. 'Oh, big strong Director Cuetlancaona, save us from the monsters we can't actually defeat with our lousy campaigns.' Not exactly pictures of confidence," Natcahuacu said as he rolled his eyes.
"Perhaps. But we can't take them for granted. If they manage to somehow convince Cuetlancaona to take their offer, it changes everything. His poll numbers are ridiculously good for someone who isn't even running officially. He could pose a real threat to the President." Yacanqui took out her own laptop to begin taking notes. "We need to consider either warning Cuetlancaona off, or having a plan ready to weaken him if he does run."
"A plan? What kind of plan?" Xiadani's expression turned skeptical as Yacanqui continued. "Well, you could always indirectly or directly demand that he not run to remain FIS Director - privately, of course. We can also research some negative campaigning approaches. See if there's anything dirty or harmful in the Director's past that could hurt him politically. We could also 'find' such things if needed," Yacanqui continued, slowing as Xiadani's expression continued to shift. "Or, we could just redirect some of your negatives to him. We know that there are some in the electorate who blame you for the Golden Blade insurgency kicking off as badly as it did. He was FIS Director at the time, and would make a nice juicy target to bounce that blame to - "
Yacanqui suddenly halted as Xiadani raised her hand. "No. We are not going to do anything that weakens Cuetlancaona." Before either Yacanqui or Natcahuacu could object, Xiadani raised her hand again. "Cuetlancaona has done a superb job as FIS Director. We know that. More importantly, the voters know that. How can you be sure that people won't just see right through such tactics, and blame us for the smears?" Xiadani shook her head. "More to the point, even if he runs, I can take him. And after that election, I still have to work with the man. We still need him at FIS. Anything that weakens him in his role with the agency weakens Huenya. I don't want that on my conscience, when I can win this thing without it."
"So then...um...what do you want us to do?" Yacanqui said after a long pause.
"Just keep running the campaign as it is. Do not go negative, not even a little. You can hit the Conservatives and the PH for being so electorally weak that they had to pull this stunt in the first place, but that's it. Otherwise, focus on our accomplishments and our platform. That's the route we need to take," the President said firmly and confidently. "As for Cuetlancaona, I will handle that matter directly."
After another long pause, Yacanqui nodded. She stood up and left with Natcahuacu. The two of them exchanged a look as they exited the office that Xiadani recognized. It bore the same skepticism that the President had on her own face just a moment earlier. When she was alone, the President sighed. She was going to have to make another call later that day.
---
Eztic Tower 3 residential block, Ixtenco
Five hours later
Five black SUVs pulled up at the entrance of Eztic Tower 3. FIS agents in black suits with blue ties exited two of them, forming a tight security perimeter. Two of the other SUVs disgorged another set of similarly clad FIS agents, as a single man exited the one in the middle of the convoy. FIS Director Cuetlancaona smiled and greeted the doormen as he entered the tower, followed by his security detail. The group boarded the two elevators in the lobby, using special keys to redirect them both only to the top floor.
At the top of the tower, Cuetlancaona went inside his residence. The penthouse suite at Eztic 3 had been chosen both for its comforts, and its security. The Eztic tower block housed many important Huenyans and foreigners, and had top-notch security to include bulletproof windows and blast-resistant doors. FIS even maintained agents on top of Tower 3 with anti-aircraft missiles, in case someone decided to go after the FIS Director from the air. All of the security and duties attached to his role vanished, though, once he got inside.
"Tatsin!" A young girl came rushing to the entrance, throwing her arms around Cuetlancaona. "Well, hello, Yoyontli," he said as he wrapped his daughter up in a giant hug. "How are you doing, love?" Yoyontli proceeded to tell her father how she was doing and literally everything that had happened to her that day. A soft chuckle from the living room interrupted the girl's rapid-fire speech. "Your father just got home, let him rest a bit, child. Go wash up for dinner." Animitl, Cuetlancaona's wife, gently ushered her daughter off to wash up before giving Cuetlancaona a hug of her own. "Glad you're home," she said.
"I'm glad to be home. It's been a day. Had to deal with a residual Golden Blade cell in Aquiyahuatl, and the leftover mess from our Milintican intervention." Cuetlancaona sighed as he shrugged off his suit and began loosening his tie.
"And some people trying to draft you for president," Animitl replied with a mischievous smirk on her face. Cuetlancaona sighed again, pausing mid-tie-removal. "There was also that, yes."
"Have you....thought about that?" Animitl asked. Cuetlancaona shrugged. "It's tempting, I won't lie. I know I could win, if I ran. And I know I could do the job."
"I heard a but there," Animitl said. Cuetlancaona chuckled; she really knew him too well. "There are several buts. FIS is still doing extremely important work, and still learning how to do it. We've only been an intelligence agency for a couple of years now, going up against countries who have been playing the spy game forever. Especially the Empire. I don't know how I feel about leaving that - it's not a complete task. There's also the other questions that go along with this. Would I do a better job than Xiadani, or at least as good as she's done? Has she done anything, or not done anything, that is worth her losing her job? Also...men like Popol and Acxopotl are hardly the generous or self-sacrificing sort. What if they expect to be the power behind the throne? What if they expect to be able to control me, or puppeteer me, once I get elected? That would be a problem."
"You could appoint someone at FIS to make sure the job continues to get done right, and be in an even stronger position to protect Huenya as president," Animitl said calmly. "And you would make a damn fine president, if I do say so myself. And I do," Animitl smirked, earning another laugh from Cuetlancaona. "But you're right...Xiadani hasn't done anything that disqualifies her. I still think her heavy-handed response to the insurgents triggered the last big uprising. But if the rumors are true, it's also her threat to stuff a nuke down Calhualyana's throat that ended the insurgency. So there's that." Animitl paused. "I know you probably won't answer me...but are those rumors true?"
Cuetlancaona simply smiled and tapped his lips silently. Animitl smirked back. "Of course. So what else is making your decision hard?"
"The biggest reason of all. There are already people out there who want me dead, being FIS Director." Cuetlancaona looked around his apartment, eyeing the bulletproof windows and contemplating the security gauntlet around his residence. "If I become president, that only gets worse. You and Yoyontli would be even more at risk."
"There's no reward without risk. I knew that when I married you," Animitl replied. "You will protect us, as always. And it's not like I'm unfamiliar with how to protect myself or Yoyontli." Cuetlancaona nodded in agreement; Animitl had fought on the side of Huenya during the Civil War, earning a medal for her actions at Chuaztlapoc in defense of Yauhmi. She wasn't, by definition, a typical housewife. Cuetlancaona placed his head on Animitl's shoulder as she gave him a hug. "Whatever you decide to do, president or not, we're going to be right here with you."
A soft ping interrupted their hug. "Director? There is a call coming in from the Tecpancalli Tonaltzintli. It's the President," a voice echoed over the intercom. Cuetlancaona stepped back slightly, looking at Animitl. "Don't let her grill you," she said with a grin. Cuetlancaona smiled as he went into his private office.
Once seated at his desk, Cuetlancaona steeled himself before answering the call. "Madam President," he said in a neutral voice. Xiadani smiled slightly on the screen. "Director. I hope I am not interrupting you. I know you're at home with your family, so I'll keep this brief."
Here it comes, Cuetlancaona thought. He had done enough interrogations to feel like he knew when one was beginning. But to his surprise, Xiadani's usual smile turned into something warmer. "We've worked well together over the past few years. We've worked to keep Huenya safe, helped it become more secure, and thwarted a bunch of Imperial schemes along the way. I think thwarting those schemes was my favorite part."
Cuetlancaona smiled despite himself, as Xiadani continued. "If you decide to run for president, I will run a hard campaign against you. But I will keep it decent. No lies, no smears, no personal attacks, no diving into the mud. All I ask is that you do the same." The FIS Director nodded as Xiadani continued. "I want to make sure that no matter what, whether as president or continuing as FIS Director, that you can do your job without being tarnished. Just extend me the same courtesy, and we'll be good."
"I agree. I have no wish to tarnish you either. Just so you know, I haven't decided if I am even running yet."
"I figured as much." Xiadani smiled again. "I honestly do not intend to try to influence your decision or place undue pressure on you. There are some that would like me to, but that's not how I want to be in power. Whatever you decide, I want us to be fair to each other so that we can both continue to serve Huenya no matter how this all plays out. As for your decision...sleep on it. Don't decide now. I'll hear about it like everyone else, on the news. Have a good night, Director."
Cuetlancaona nodded, a bemused smile on his face, as Xiadani ended the call. That went better than I expected. His always-analytical mind processed the call. Did Xiadani really mean it, or was she playing nice to throw him off? Cuetlancaona was, by sheer necessity, a very good judge of character. But this was a challenge to read even for him. The FIS Director continued to think as he went out into his apartment to have dinner with his family.
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