Sustainably Sourced Sabot

Shadow found himself drifting towards the part in the heavy curtains, the one that led to the stage and podium, and angling himself just enough that he could squint through the bright sunlight at the gathered crowd. Neatly arranged rows of folding chairs were filled with a mix of congenial looking adults and high school students, many of whom wore scent masks. Parents, staff of the community center, and the target audience for the planned annex.

To the side was a thick forest of members of various forms of media there to capture the even for posterity. The pack writhed amongst themselves in their tight cordoned areas. Like animals not yet domesticated. As much as he wanted to deny it, he was gravely disappointed at the lack of pink in the thick throng of media.

He became aware of a presence next to him far too late. “If I didn’t know any better,” the bat clucked, “I’d say you were looking for something.” Her tone dropped, taking on a threatening iciness, “Or someone.”

Shadow stepped back into the semi-privacy of the backstage area. “I don’t know what you are talking about.” He straightened to his full height and stared down at Rouge, indifferently. Her pant suit was a pastel tangerine and, as always, she had her fingernails painted to match. When asked now, Rouge would say going gloveless was a statement about dated societal expectations, but the real reason was far more Rouge-flavored.

She’d taken them off to harass a particularly ‘traditional’ economics professor back in undergrad who had called her out for ‘revealing clothing’. Shadow believed the term ‘immoral vixen’ was what really set Rouge off. She countered by nailing a copy of the University’s dress code and student’s bill of rights to his office door. He gave her next paper a zero, citing ‘evidence of plagiarism’ and threatened an official investigation and potential expulsion.

From then on, Rouge sat in the front row every class, flaunting her bare white phalanges until he ejected her. The Dean didn’t care for the expertly organized student protest that followed, but the whole affair sputtered out when an old editorial the professor had written resurfaced. Contained in where a few choice phrases that had absolutely nothing to do with the professor amicably parting ways with the university to spend more time with his family. Rouge never wore gloves again.

Rouge rolled her eyes. “Uh-huh. Sure. Like how I don’t know why you’re here today? This is the one event you never attend. You can hardly fault me my curiosity.” She was right, of course. Not that he’d ever admit it.

Shadow looked at the crowd once more. “Maybe I’m here to support you? Or to make sure you don’t besmirch the Foundation’s reputation?” Though the Foundation did not take an official political stand, Rouge’s friendship with Shadow was not a secret. Several donors had pulled their support due to how openly Shadow allowed Rouge to exploit the non-profit’s reputation and events for visibility.

Rouge huffed. “I don’t think I’d be the one doing the besmirching.”

His quills bristled, and he rounded on her, a growl building deep in his throat. Rouge met his eyes with equal intensity. Neither faltered or backed down. Shadow could smell her through his mask. Who the fuck did she think she was? Coming into his space and insulting him? He should teach her-

A cough made Shadow blink. He looked away and cleared his throat, forcing himself to relax. Though he couldn’t see her, he knew his personal assistant was near, probably clutching that tablet she could type over two hundred words per minute on with one hand.

Nicole spoke softly at his elbow. “Sir, the scholarship awardee has arrived. I believe she would be very honored to meet you.” Right. Put on the face. Say the words.

“Of course.” He looked at Rouge, who had the audacity to be examining her cuticles. He scowled. “Excuse me.”

As Shadow turned to leave, Rouge’s fingertips brushed the sleeve of his jacket, and he paused as she leaned in. “I’m sorry.” She murmured. “That was uncalled for.”

“I don’t know to what you are referring.” He walked away.

Shadow strode passed Rouge’s manger, the chameleon simultaneously tapping away at two separate cellphones, one in each hand. Espio had the same ruthless intellect as Rouge but several times the cynicism. The dead eyed calculation gained from years as a political operator.

Shadow descended a small set of steps to a covered area with a small table with refreshments. A number of the community center and Foundation staff were there, chatting amongst themselves. Shadow nodded and smiled as he was spotted, ignoring the surprised expressions. Across the space he saw the center’s Director with a young woman in a unique, but very stylish, red dress and matching neck gaiter.

He paused and Nicole’s voice came clear and low. “Honey Vipers. Senior at Central City High School. Accepted into City College of Art and Design for fashion design. Father is deceased. Mother is a librarian. Honey’s heat is quart-“ Shadow moved forward, having heard plenty.

The Director, a dove, recognized his approach first and his face lit with a large smile. “Mr. Kintobor! I am so happy you could join us today!” Shadow shook the extended hand.

“I had an unexpected opening in my schedule.” A lie.

“It’s an honor, sir. Truly it is. I cannot express my thanks enough. We’d never have gathered the fund for the extension without your support.”

“I’ll have to defer any thanks to the Foundation’s allocation committee. I just rubber stamp their recommendations.” He donned a practiced small smile. He turned his attention to the teenager. “You must be Honey. Congratulations.” Extended his hand and she snatched it up with surprising exuberance.

“Thank you! I simply can’t tell you how honored and grateful I am!” The cat struck a pose, jutting her hip out. “The fashion world won’t know what hit them!” Honey smiled, her eye sparkling with a hungry energy. Shadow had seen it first in Rouge, all those years ago, a completely alien situation to him until then. The restlessness born from being confined by circumstances. Her age, her second-sex, her family’s socio-economic status. Being told ‘no’ her entire life until today when the world of ‘yes’ opened up before her.

Shadow felt a growing warmth in his chest, like a balloon inflating. He loved the work the Foundation did. He would keep Maria’s smile alive by spreading it to as many faces as he could. A ray of sunshine cutting across the darkness.

Then a razor of guilt popped the balloon as the memory surfaced of the one who had been told ‘no’ for the last time. A decade of distance had dulled the shame, but the guilt cut clean because Shadow honed it daily. Still, he did not let the pleasant smile slip.

Honey nearly glowed with youthful passion. “I’m already in talks with this girl at my school who’s been making scent masks. Her designs are practical and clever, but could use a little zhuzhing up. I expect to be in commercial production in a year and by the time I’ve graduated, I’ll have the capital to start my own studio! In five years, anyone who’s anyone will be wearing Honey Brand clothes and accessories!”

Shadow laughed. “Sounds like you’ve got it all figured out. I will tell my stylist to look forward to it.” His gaze shifted briefly to the girl’s covered neck. Nicole hadn’t mentioned an Alpha and he wasn’t going to ask, that’s for damn sure. He couldn’t smell her through his mask and he hoped she couldn’t smell him through hers.

Honey was studying his face. “It’s so rare to see an Alpha willing to mask.” Damn, this girl was brazen. “Did you know there isn’t an established brand for Alpha scent masks? That’s an untapped market right there! Times are changing. You know there is no reason Alphas shouldn’t mask like Omegas? It’s purely a social construct.”

“Yes. I am aware.” Acutely.

“Miss Honey…” The Director tried to cut in, but the girl could not be deterred.

“Don’t you think it’s time for that old fashioned inequality be dissolved? All that’s needed is a push to make Alpha masks fashionable.”

“Oh? Is that all? And what is the difference between an Omega mask and an Alpha one?”

She gave him a large, conspiratorial grin. “Marketing.”

Shadow chuckled. This girl was going to tear the world up with her teeth.

“I could work up a pitch deck, if you’d like?” Ah, there it was. The solicitation.

Without letting his smile fade, he dismissed her with a curt nod, “Congratulations, Miss Vipers. It was wonderful to meet you.” Shadow turned to the dove. He needed to get his name from Nicole. “Always a pleasure, Director.” He looked between them. Honey was uncowed and about to start again. “If you will excuse me.”

“The ceremony is scheduled to start in ten minutes.” Nicole reminded them all. She followed Shadow as he returned to the area with Rouge.

She stood near Espio, speaking in hushed tones, but moving animatedly. Espio shook his head and Rouge stopped. He said something and Rouge started the motion again, but with slight variation. Debate practice. Shadow loathed public speaking. There was so much more to it than simply reading off cue cards. And then there was his ‘resting contempt face’ as Rouge called it.

Rouge spotted him and broke away from the purple chameleon. Shadow rolled his eyes as she approached.

“How are you doing?” She asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

“I am fine, of course.” He replied flatly.

“I may have…” She sighed, “realized that you may be especially frustrated. Annoyed.” How perceptive of her.

“You are certainly annoying me right now.”

“Disappointed?”

Shadow’s ears canted back before he forced them forward. A tightness was growing in his chest. Disappointed seemed like an understatement. Fuck it, fine. The former prosecutor would keep prodding until she got what she wanted, a confession. “You seem especially against my interest in Amy.”

Rouge sighed. “I suppose it’s a reflex. Perhaps an unfair one. An old and expired fear that you’d...” Shadow was sure what he’d have done if she finish that sentence. Better not to think about it.

The anxiety mounted, forming a tight ball in the base of his throat. Was it more than that? “Did she…say anything about me? Was I unkind?” Just thought had his stomach clenching.

“She said you were nice to her.”

The relief was instantaneous. Warmth radiated through his chest and dissipating tension left a euphoric haze permeating the corridors of his mind. She said he was nice to her. Amy thought he was nice. “I’m pleased she thinks so.” It was a struggle to keep his tone level.

Rouge rolled her eyes. “She was supposed to be here but asked off to catch up on the photos from the dinner. Apparently, she spent nearly all day yesterday at her doctor’s. Omega problems.”

Shadow started as ice knifed through him. Turning and speaking before he could catch himself. “Is she alright?” How could he so stupid? Amy had been in a panic, had been in an intolerable situation. Of course she would have sought medical attention. He could have helped her! He could have had a doctor to see her that night. W-why hadn’t he? Was he stupid? The guilt brought a sweat to his brow.

Rouge’s eyes narrowed and scanned his face. “My god, Shadow. You are smitten.” If that was pity in her voice, he was going to throttle her.

He looked away. “Is that really such a bad thing?” He did not have the courage to see Rouge’s reaction.

“No, that’s not what I mean at all.” There was an unsettling softness in her voice. Shadow found he much preferred her usual jeering sarcasm. He understood the stick, not the carrot. “It’s just…I suppose you could say I’ve developed a soft spot for her.” A low growl escaped Shadow’s chest before he could stifle it. She gave him a flat stare. “Really?”

Fuck he was an idiot. “Apologies.”

The softness had evaporated by a bad dream. “Shadow, you are about to give a speech in front of a pack of rabid journalist. You need to get your shit together.” Ah, back in familiar territory. “Have your mood swings after you introduce me.”

Shadow swallowed. It irked him how often Rouge was right.

“Have you called her?” Rouge’s teal eyes bore into him.

“She did not give me her number.” He answered.

Rouge snorted. “Like that means you don’t have it.”

Before Shadow could retort-

“Thank you everyone for coming!” The Director commanded their attention. “It is time to begin!” He passed them and passed through the opening in the current. The gathered crowd outside began to clap and cheer, filling the space with a muddled cacophony.

A soft touch on his arm drew Shadow’s attention. He bent down and Nicole’s voice was barely intelligible over the din. “The Director’s name is Blue Rhapsody.” Shadow nodded.

The Director approached the podium at the center of the stage and, after the noise quieted down, began the same speech Shadow had heard hundreds of times before with slight variations for the benefit, the project, or whatever else he’d signed a check for. This particular event was the groundbreaking for a community center annex that would provide support for Omega high school students with the goal of increasing graduation rates.

Shadow blinked as Nicole light touched his arm. Any second it be his tur- “Now, to give a few word on behalf of the Maria Kintobor Memorial Foundation, I would like pass the microphone to Mr. Shadow Kintobor!”

Shadow emerged from the protection of the curtain to an audible gasp from the press cage. Jackels. The sound of shutters nearly covered the polite applause from actual attendees, few, if any, of whom would be familiar with him. The reports and journalists, however? He’d just handed them fodder to rekindle the popular tabloid conspiracy regarding his relationship with Rouge. Nicole would probably be using discretionary funds to buy printing rights and quashing shitty half-ass hit pieces by the end of his portion of the proceedings.

All this trouble and Amy wasn’t even fucking here. She would have been if he had just done the smart thing and gotten her a doctor when he had the chance. All of this was his fucking fault. Amy had been suffering and he had done nothing.

Stop it, focus.

Shadow approached the podium and shook the Director’s hand once more. The shutters did not stop. He took his place behind the microphone and looked out of the gathered crowd. Directly in front of him, at the back of seating area, was Lieutenant Knuckles in his sharp black uniform, fulfilling his duty of providing police protection for Rouge. She never denied the claims about her and Shadow. Why would she when it provided perfect cover for her actual conflict-of-interest-ridden relationship?

“I would like to thank you all for coming out on this lovely day. I would like to say what an honor it has been to work with Director Rhapsody to bring this project to fruition. It is the sworn mandate of the Maria Kintobor Memorial Foundation to strive to create a world where all Omegas have a chance to be happy. We are more than thrilled to partner with the local municipality to secure the funding for this annex.”

“And, in keeping with that mission, to present this year’s winner of the Ruby Fantasy Memorial Scholarship for the Arts, I would like to introduce my good friend and mayoral candidate Rouge Baton.” Shadow stepped back as Rouge burst from the dark curtains, her hands held high waving to anyone and everyone. The crowd erupted again. Shadow and Rouge shook hands and embraced in a brief, chaste hug for the cameras.

“You sound like an angry robot.” She whispered in his ear.

“I’d send an android of myself if I could.” He rarely actually spoke at events, but he had to come up with some plausible reason to be here even if Rouge discovered his true motive immediately.

“But you show up anyway for me.”

Then they were apart and Shadow was back in the semi-privacy of the backstage. He was done. He’d done what he needed to do and there was no reason to stay. In fact, he had all the work and appointments that he’d had Nicole cancel to that he could be here waiting for him.

But he stood beside Espio and listened to Rouge anyway.

The effortless way she could grasp a crowd, alternatingly by the heart and throat. The unbridled passion shrouded in congeniality, with the sharp wit that drew anyone and everyone in. The way she that seemed to be sharing an intimate in-joke with a hundred people at once.

Simply put, Rouge was an artist. Words her brush, ideas her paint, hearts and minds her canvas, and the future the only worthy critic. Rouge’s voice rose and fell, pushing and pulling the crowd like the moon directed the sea. Then she dove like an eagle at the heart of the matter.

How important equal access to education was. How one’s second sex shouldn’t determine one’s prospects in life. How terribly low the graduation rate of Omegas was. How the fight was far from won. How she needed all of their support to make a better world a reality.

Honey entered the stage at the appropriate time and more pictures were taken. They looked made for one another, sharply dressed, immaculately curated, and born for the camera. I’m going to rule this whole fucking world, Rouge had told him not long after they had met. God damn did she mean it.

As Rouge’s speech died down, the Director went to retake the microphone and conclude the proceedings. But then some dumb fuck shouted from the press box. “Isn’t this all performative?! Paying lip-service to easy social issues just to get elected?! What would you actually do?!”

Rouge stopped half way back to the protection of the curtained area. Shadow raised a brow. Uh-oh. The media was learning how to push her buttons. “You want policy?” She smirked at the fool who asked the question and pivoted on her sharp heels, returning to the podium.

“What the fuck is she doing?” Espio looked up from his phones. Nothing good. Shadow recognized that look in her eyes. The blazing ire that squeezed guilty verdicts out of so many juries.

Rouge leaned towards the microphone to make sure every one of her syllables was carried as far as possible. “On day one of my administration, I will issue an executive order prohibiting the preferential treatment Alphas receive during jury selection due to the precedent set by Drago Wolfe v. The City. I will eliminate the unconstitutional and disgusting bicameral state of our judicial system.”

The audience erupted. The reporters screamed over each other to try to get Rouge’s attention, begging her for a follow-up. The center staff, Omegas, and their allies were on their feet cheering their lungs out.

“God damn it.” Espio hissed, clutching the dark curtain. “Now the whole debate is going to be about this. Fucking perfect.”

Shadow felt a light touch on his arm. “You should leave, sir.” Nicole suggested, urgently. He nodded and turned away from the growing frenzy, his last sight being Rouge basking in the glow of the torrent of emotion she’d spawned.

As he followed Nicole through the back area and towards where Bruno, Shadow’s chauffeur, had pulled up his town car, Shadow’s mind raced. It was out in the open now. She’d said she’d do it. Fill the loophole. All the slurred threats and promises, both of them deep in their cups over the years. Shadow could never scrub his soul clean, but as penance, he was helping Rouge pull up the ladder on this particular form of heinous injustice.

And that was just the start. Oh, she had so many ideas.

“Sir.” The bear in the chauffeurs cap said as he held open the back passenger door of the elegant black sedan for Shadow. He slid in and adjusted his jacket to sit more comfortably on his frame. Nicole entered on the other side and they were quickly moving away from the Community Center.

Rouge’s declaration would be blowing up on social media by now. He had no interest in any initial coverage or haphazard rushed analysis, but Nicole’s fingers blazed over her device. Shadow often wondered what she was actually doing half the time, but quickly realized it would be foolish to learn how the sausage gets made. Still, he stole a quick glance.

Nicole was in deep collaboration with KLS’s public relations team, the messages coming in quickly in their joint chat, working to get a press release out ahead of any potentially unfavorable coverage of his appearance. Not just of his connections to Rouge. The yearly scholarship always drove up interest in Ruby. Who she was. How she died. Past awardees and where they were now.

“Sir,” Nicole drew his attention. “How aggressively should I be managing the narrative?”

“Don’t engage in any negativity. Run interference for Miss Vipers. She especially doesn’t deserve the attention Rouge has drawn. As for anything…else, use your own discretion and I don’t want to hear about it.”

“Yes, sir.

Shadow being included in any exhuming of Ruby’s memory could only be harmful. Hopefully Rouge’s declaration drowned any of that out. No. What was he thinking? It was going to make things so much worse. Shadow pinched the bridge of his nose, fearing the tension headache he felt brewing.

Think of something else. Think of work.

The official motion to hold a vote of no confidence had been filed and the board members had been notified. The terms were being set, but Shadow held no illusion that he’d have until the next normal board meeting to address the issue. Ordering the legal department to slow ball the affair would be morally grey at best and absolutely out of the question when he realized that that would be exactly what his Father would do.

No, he had at most a few weeks. What a waste of time. Not just his personally, but everything in development at KLS was taking an unofficial pause. If he was ousted, no one wanted to be caught dead working on the colossal money pit that had been Shadow’s magnum opus. Even if he emerged victorious, precious weeks of development would have been lost at the cost of millions of dollars.

We watched the city rush by through the dark tinted window. The Community Center was far from the city center, in one of the less economically blessed areas of the metropolitan area. Boarded up business, graffiti covered walls, bars on windows, and barbed wire topping fences. The graduation rate for Omegas at the closest high school was 10%. But the crowd had been filled with hopeful faces. Hopeful that past results were not indicative of future ones.

He withdrew his cellphone. There was a text message from Eclipse with a picture attached. A clumsy shot of Vanta practicing for her recital with her private tutor from an adjoining room. Would mean a lot to her if you could attend. Shadow smiled. He replied that he would make every effort.

“When is my niece’s violin recital?”

“In six weeks at six in the evening. I have your calendar blocked for the entire evening and a florist engaged.” Nicole replied without looking up. “I will send you a mockup of the bouquet for your approval.” Her hands did not slow.

“No need. I trust your judgement.” And Nicole probably knew what flowers Vanta would like better than Shadow.

Eclipse replied with thanks and Mother is expecting your call. Shadow furrowed his brow. The sting of Amy’s absence returned. He’d hoped…

Shadow shook away the thoughts and opened his email app. Some good news was due from the third party testing lab on the whole Omega blockers NHS contract debacle, but instead…The email from Blaze was long and detailed, but Shadow had only skimmed it thus far. Prower Labs had gathered extraordinary results needed additional time to confirm. No conclusions at this time. Fuck.

KLS had lost the contract out of the goddamned blue. Their price was better than Starline Pharma by a wide margin, but suddenly some Department of Health report had found that KLS’s product did not pass some very suspiciously timed and vaguely defined efficacy test. The contract was unceremoniously broken mid-term contravening a number of clauses. The lawyers reacted immediately.

Over 85% of the City’s Omega population lived near the poverty line and drew their hormonal medication through Public Insurance. It was not a minor hit to KLS’s bottom line. Now the City was going to risk not making payroll with the legal hellfire Blaze and her team would be raining down on it over the next five to ten years as the case worked its way through the courts.

In the meantime, Shadow needed to maintain control of his company.

“I need to make a private call.” Shadow said.

“Yes, sir.” Nicole jabbed at her tablet with lightning fast and precise pecks. She unbuckled her seatbelt and leaned forward, navigating Bruno to a deserted side street. The chuffer pulled the town car along the curb and parked. He and Nicole exited, leaving Shadow alone.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Navigating to an entry in his address book, he hit call.