Luckily for Lydia, most of the security planning for the night was already taken care of, giving Carter some extra time. After the call, he made his way to the Bunker where he instructed the android to meet him, waiting just outside for her arrival. Along the way he made a few calls to set things up. She was right to be afraid. No telling who might want to ensure she wasn't elected.
After a short while, the elevator doors opened to reveal Lydia, and standing in a cramped, secure corridor was Carter. Not far behind him was a large metal bulkhead with two armed guards. This would be the closest that anyone could ever get to the Bunker, without clearance.
Carter gave a small smile in greeting to the would-be Captain, and extended his hand to shake.
"Hello Lydia. It's a pleasure to finally meet you in person."
Lydia nodded towards him, forcing a smile though still shaken up from her earlier meeting with her handler. Placing her hand in his, she allowed Carter to shake it gently before releasing.
"It's a pleasure to finally meet you as well, Carter."
The android's eyes gazed over her surroundings - in all her years of service she had never seen the Bunker.
"Is there a particular reason you wanted to meet me here?"
"As a matter of fact, there is."
Carter turned towards the guards and the door, and swiped a keycard from his pocket on the keypad. The pad lit up, and after a moment, a loud buzz rang out. The mechanisms inside the bulkhead could be heard as they were set into motion.
"Come with me," he said as he cocked his head back towards her.
As the door opened, one of the guards spoke out.
"Sir. Guests are strictly forbidden past this door, even if-" he was cut off by his superior.
"If you want to keep your job soldier, then I suggest you forget that you ever saw us. Clear?"
The guard went quiet, and looked away. Carter began walking through the long corridor, which would eventually lead into the Council's conference room.
For a moment, Lydia feared. What could they possibly be doing that would require Carter to threaten someone just to let her pass? Could it be an early assassination attempt? Lydia didn't figure Carter to be the type, but she prepared for the worst. Instinctively, she reached for her pocket to take a hold of her knife, before realizing she was in a dress and therefore did not have it on her.
Now on edge, especially given the uncomfortable situation she had just been in before coming here, Lydia proceeded to follow Carter into the corridor with growing unease.
Stepping through one final bulkhead, Carter led the frightened AI into the Council conference room. It was deserted aside from the two of them, with another bulkhead on the opposite side of the room.
A large oval shaped table with a holo-projector in the middle was set in the center of the spacious white-walled room. Twelve nearly identical seats were placed around the table; each chair as their unique symbol to represent the Councilmembers.
Carter remained silent as they entered, allowing Lydia time to look around if she liked. He walked around to the opposite side of the conference table, and sat in his chair, propping his feet up. With a smile, he motioned to the chair at one end of the table. The Captain's chair.
"Have a seat."
Carter's relaxed demeanor helped settle her edginess, but Lydia remained alert. As her eyes scanned across the interior of the conference room, she was met with mixed feelings. On the one hand she was pleased - excited, even - to be able to see this bit of the Initium Novum's history, but at the same time was still unsure of Carter's motivations and wished she could have seen it on better terms.
Lydia approached the Captain's chair, but hesitated before sitting in it as asked. Standing behind the chair, her hands rested against the top of the seat back as she eyed the Military Representative.
"Carter, what's this about?"
Carter gazed at her, wanting for her to sit. A smirk came across his face as he rested his head on his hand, just staring at her. He looked quite comfortable and pleased.
"Lydia the AI. One of the oldest, if not THE oldest AI on the ship. One of the most attractive too, if I had to pick." His smirk widened.
"In less than 24 hours, that seat you're standing by could belong to you. What's this about? I wanted you to experience it at least once, just in case you're dead by then."
Lydia nodded slowly in response, processing Carter's words as she slowly seated herself in the Captain's chair. As she settled into the seat, her fears quickly subsided as an immense sense of pride washed over her. Emerald eyes looking across the table and the other chairs eventually settled on Carter.
"I'm... flattered, I think?"
He chuckled at her for a moment, before standing up and walking towards her.
"I don't envy you Lydia. I find myself wondering if you fully grasp the weight of your situation. Though given how worried you looked earlier on the call, I'll just assume that you do. You're brave at least. You'll need to be after tonight, win or lose."
Carter sat on the table next to the AI, and smiled down at her. His one eye focused on hers.
"Personally, I don't care if you're an AI or human. All I care about is whether you'll be a good Captain or not. I hope the old man knows what he's doing by picking you, and isn't just trying to win the heart of a pretty face."
He brought his hand up and gently grasped her chin.
"But I guess that isn't any of my business, right?"
Lydia was not pleased with the implications of Carter's comment. Standing up swiftly from the Captain's chair, she took a deep breath before focusing on Carter's smug smirk.
"Xavier is statistically the best Captain the Initium Novum has ever had. I trust his judgment, and so should you. So should everyone. Thank you for your 'concern,' Carter - but you're right. It really isn't your business."
The smirk on his face grew.
"Or maybe he already has won your heart."
He stood, and made his way back towards the door from which they came.
"Keep that fire burning, Lydia. I promise, you will need it. My men will have arrived by now. They are a couple of the best I have to offer. Consider it a token of my support for you as captain."
Lydia nodded, allowing the gravity of the situation to sink in once again.
"Thank you, Carter." Her words were genuine, despite her dislike for his comments earlier.
They both made their way back down the corridor, and entered the elevator taking them back down to level 4. When the doors opened, two soldiers dressed in full power armor and armed in full military gear, including plasma rifles, were waiting. They would be escorting Lydia for the rest of the day.
Rowan sat on her bed, sliding on her boots and then a seldom worn jacket that completed her uniform. Under normal circumstances she'd claim it was better to go without, so she could blend in better and not spook a perp before she could get ahold of him. For this party, she figured that would be the idea; Scare the slimebags into inactivity. The shiny red arm coupled with the standard copper-wear would do the job well enough, that particular appendage still clearly visible due to a required alteration (Cut off sleeve).
