Buckley plastered a huge smile on her face. “Commander Kit Steele is very much an American citizen and very much on our side. Details of her abilities are classified of course, but I can tell you we are working together very closely as allies.”
She was smooth.
“Why are the Galadrias here? When are they going home?”
I stiffened, but Buckley kept her smile plastered on. “The Galadrias were brought here by Commander Kit Steele in an emergency situation and will return just as soon as they are able. Next question.”
Bitch.
“Is it true the ghouls burn up when they hit our atmosphere?” a young, eager man shouted.
Buckley cleared her throat. “Yes.”
The room erupted into chaos of questions but Buckley stood there confidently. “One final question, I have time for one final question…”
A young Asian woman stood up on a chair. “If Commander Steele can open a door to their world and the ghouls die when they hit ours, let’s start throwing them out! What are you doing to end the Dream Wars?”
The smile fell from Buckley’s mouth and turned into a grim line of determination. She leaned forward, hovering over the mic. “I assure you I am doing everything in my power to end this war. That is all. Thank you.”
Buckley walked off camera and Damien turned off his phone.
“Reporters are rabid,” he exclaimed.
I crossed my arms. “Well, they are about to get more rabid. because if Buckley doesn’t agree to my deal, I’m going to the press.”
Damien winced. “Just… try to remain calm. Anger and negotiations don’t mix.”
I wanted to tell him that asking me to calm down just made me more enraged, but Buckley‘s assistant walked into the tent right then.
“The president is on her way in,” he informed us and left.
Two minutes later, Buckley entered.
“Commander Steele, I’m glad you made it back.” She nodded to me. Then fixed her eyes on Damien. “My assistant has told me the gateway is holding?”
Damien nodded. “Jeremy’s idea worked.”
Buckley pinched the bridge of her nose. “He’s a genius. Tell him whatever he needs, he gets.”
I cleared my throat. “Ma’am, we have an issue we need to discuss.”
She looked up at me and I almost felt sorry for her in that moment. The bags under her eyes were large and dark and I wondered when the last time was that she slept.
She checked her watch. “You have three minutes before my telephone conference with Japan.”
Three minutes… jeeze.
I squared my shoulders. “I am not going to risk myself and try to bring down the Dream War without knowing the Galadrias will never be sent back there. I want them to have full citizenship or I’m out.”
Instead of looking pissed, she sighed as more stress eked into her features.
“Kit. They’re aliens. Regardless of how gentle they may be, humanity still associates them with the Dream Wars and everything bad.”
“I don’t care. I’m telling you right now to go back in that press room and declare the Galadrias safe from persecution or I’m out and Jeremy goes with me.”
That caused her eyebrow to rise and I felt Damien stiffen beside me.
“I just watched their home be ripped from the sky! They are refugees. Have a fucking heart!” I finally screamed, letting the rage fully take over. I didn’t give a shit if she was the president or not.
