One Year

**One Year** is the 6th chapter of *The Power (Novel)*.

## Plot

(An illustration of a “Priestess Queen” consisting of two welded together pieces, the status and a base. The base is marked with a “Bitten Fruit” motif, which is believed to be a religious symbol, and is constructed with “Cataclysm Era” materials, a combination of metal and glass. Dated to be over 2,500 years old)

(An illustration of a “Serving Boy” statue, which was found in the same group of objects as the “Priestess Queen”. It’s believed to depict a type of sex worker.)

(Four invitation cards from President Tatiana Moskalev, dated June 15, addressed to Senator Margot Cleary, Mother Eve, Roxy and Tunde.)

#### Margot

In Bessapara at a party at the President’s mansion, Tunde interviews Senator Cleary about the situation in Moldova. Margot explains that she supports President Moskalev because she was the democratically elected leader of her country. However, Tunde suggests that Margot’s interest is in ensuring that the exiled House of Saud (Awadi-Atif) doesn’t regain power in Saudi Arabia, thereby threatening the U.S. access to their oil.

Afterwards, he turns off the video for the interview, but he leaves the audio running. Margot then suggests to him that if he hears anything about what UrbanDox has planned, that he could make a lot of money by coming to her with that information. As Margot walks away, she thinks about how Tunde is so successful as a reporter because of how attractive he is.

Margot then goes to greet Tatiana Moskalev, who is seated on a golden throne. As they talk, Tatiana asks for U.S. assistance in their war against Northern Moldova. They are currently losing because they were betrayed by some men in Bessapara who told the North where their troops would be. Tatiana says that they may have to “alter” their laws to ensure they can root out the traitor and is hoping the U.S. will support them by staying out of their affairs.

Tatiana also says she is considering employing some NorthStar girls in their fight. As Margot thinks it through, she considers how the deployment of the girls in Bessapara would help to convince the UN to allow other deployments of NorthStar girls in places such as Saudi Arabia (where the U.S. has oil interests) by having a successful test case elsewhere. Securing that deal would be very beneficial for Margot (both in terms of her level of influence and possibility of profit).

Margot agrees to help convince the President of the U.S. that non-intervention is the right way to go. On her way out of the party, she bumps into Tunde who seems rushed and a little panicked.

#### Allie

In the chapel in the Bessaparan castle, Allie/”Mother Eve” meets with Jocelyn who traveled here with her mother and asked to meet with Mother Eve. Joceyln cries to Allie, who senses that her skein isn’t entirely functional. Skein deficiencies are difficult to correct and aren’t understood yet, but as Allie holds her hand, she senses what to adjust and is able to fix Joceyln’s skein. Jocelyn thanks her and leaves.

Back at the the party, Tatiana drops a bottle of brandy on the floor and demands a young man lick it up off the ground, despite the flecks of glass shattered in it. As he does, Allie is tempted to stop this spectacle, but knows it will diminish her in Tatiana’s eyes. Instead, Tatiana finally laughs and tells the man to get a broom to clean it up.

#### Roxy

Allie approaches Roxy at the party to discuss the situation with Tatiana. Allie says that Tatiana has become unpredictable and may have outlived her usefulness. She suggests that perhaps Bessarpara needs new leadership and that perhaps Roxy should lead them instead.

After the party, Roxy drives elsewhere to work out a deal with some UN soldiers about getting around the current blockade at the border. Darrell set up the meeting. When Roxy gets to the location, she senses that something is off. She gets knocked out.

When she awakes, she realizes that she’s strapped down and that someone is cutting into her. She tries to fight back, but is unable to do so. Soon, they’ve cut her skein out of her. She’s able to see that Bernie is there and that Darrell is prepped to be implanted with her skein. As they start the operation on Darrell, they don’t notice her as she escapes from her restraints.

Roxy then sneaks out of the room and runs into the forest nearby.

#### Tunde

Tunde photographs the 17-year-old boy, Peter, who has shards of glass in his mouth from Tatiana ordering him to lick up the brandy from the floor. The boy says it was his own fault for interrupting Tatiana. Before Tunde can walk away, Peter begs Tunde to stay. He says that Tatiana is planning on forcing all press to leave the country.

Tunde then files his story about what happened with Peter, but no one’s interested. The next morning, he decides to post it online instead, but he finds that he doesn’t have access to YouTube there, and his VPN and cellphone data aren’t operational. He finally decides to burn his footage on a DVD and mail it to Nina (the journalist he’d traveled with for a while) by asking the American ambassador to send it.

That afternoon, Tunde is asked by his hotel to hand over his passport. Meanwhile, most journalistic staff are on their way out of the country. Tunde stays, saying he’s writing a book about the new country. He watches as the police stop investigating murders of men. Tunde continues interviewing people, but he doesn’t post the interviews, knowing it would only result in him getting kicked out of the country. Instead, he does tourist-y type pieces, taking photos and whatnot.

When Tunde has been there for six weeks, Tatiana holds a press conference announcing that men now must have a female guardian and that their official documents and passport must name who their guardian is. Men will require their guardian’s permission if they wish to travel. Anyone without a guardian will be assigned to work detail by the police. The rule also applies to workers such as foreign journalists. Furthermore, men cannot take money or possessions out of the country, cannot drive cars, cannot own businesses, cannot vote, and are not permitted to gather in groups of more than three without a woman present.

There are still a handful of other journalists still in Bessapara, including a few that are male, along with Tunde. They debate whether or not to leave. When Tunde goes back to his hotel room, he goes to the front desk, offers some cash and hints that he’d like his passport back. He then asks for a Scotch to be brought up to him.

As Tunde packs up his things, the man from the front desk brings him a Scotch and his passport. Early in the morning, Tunde leaves the hotel.

## Trivia

*(e.g. observations, cross-references, 'useless knowledge')*