Mamma Mia, Chapter 6

Mamma Mia: Chapter 6

  Mia relaxes in her executive chair as the AMS press praises her choices. The Father himself sends her a communication personally thanking her -and Arthur- for bringing his son home safely and without drama. The rest of the press is all speculation: rumors and conspiracies the young Uccello dredged up, a lack of mind-saving medication, and a small inquiry about the legitimacy of the wild claims the young man made. Both the MWS and the AMS state that they do not tolerate babble of that nature.

  She hears the library door open and sits up. She suspects it to be her son, but -to her relief- it is the doctor. “Dr. Khalil! This is a pleasant occurrence.”

  “I am coming on unofficial business, Mia. May I sit?”

  She nods eagerly and gestures to an open chair across from her. He sits and crosses one leg over the other. She relaxes into her chair again and slides a small dish of assorted sweets toward him. He holds his hand up gently to decline the offer. She gives a shallow head bow. “What seems to be the problem?”

  “Not a problem. A solution.” Phillip corrects.

  “I see. A solution for my son’s ineptitude?”

  The doctor winces at the last word. Mia knows that using that word to describe her son causes him to wince. It is the only word that seems to fit the general view she has of this man-child. “Yes. That.” The doctor breathes. “It has come to my attention that -like many his age- he is fully immersed into the Starlight popularity system.”

  “Regrettably, yes.” Mia looks up to the stars through two layers of transparent diamond-enforced metal. One layer is a sky port from her library ceiling, the other a part of the sphere which houses all of the MWS bureaucracy that works underneath her. “I have no idea why or how he got into it.”

  I have my theories. Phillip thinks to himself as he takes a sweet from the dish. “I am not sure myself. But since he has a desire for fame, why not make him work for you in return for fame in that system. After all, that system is easily malleable to the wishes of the syndicates. Its claim of syndicate neutrality is inaccurate at the very least.”

  Mia puts her hands behind her head as a signal for the observant doctor. “I will consider that. Especially if that helps him get involved in his fated line of work.” Phillip stands and bows respectfully. She nods back. “Thank you for bringing this to my attention, Dr. Khalil.” He smiles. He is always willing to help with Mia’s work. “My pleasure, Mother Altamura. I’m glad I could enlighten you.” He leaves and eases the door closed behind him.

  Mia ponders the suggestion and weighs each outcome and subsequent aftermath. If all fails, she could do to her son what she has done many times before. Perhaps in the same way she dealt with the boy’s father... If it all works well, then the MWS will be in its own spotlight with a likeable heir to the leadership. She wonders for a moment about her son’s take on this, but thoughts of the benefits to the MWS push a lot of that aside. She comes to the conclusion; it no longer matters if it would benefit her son. She would just act as if it did. At the core, however, she wouldn’t care. If it benefits her son, so what? What matters are the benefits it would bring to the syndicate. And to her.

  Mia pulls her communicator to her and speaks to it. “Send a request of attention to Major General Kent.”

  “Affirmative, Mother Altamura.” It replies.