As President Keith, a few other Texans, the resistances of Europe, and a big tech tycoon boarded the train headed to the Midwest, Soldiers on the train gave them instructions.
"Listen up everyone! You are now on a protected locomotive heading for allied territory in the city of Greater Ottawa. We expect you to have your paperwork in order, be respectful as you are representing your nation, even if it is controlled by the New World Order. We, the Ottawa-Line Rail Guards, would like to be the first to welcome you into these United States. Conductor, take us home. "
The Steam-Locomotive whistled as it left the Texan Station, steaming towards Ottawa. It had been almost a full year since Ottawa's Reconstruction had begun. The deceptive weather of the Midwestern Fall had come and gone. Holiday cheer would've been enjoyable had Mother Nature not been preparing the most wicked fastball to the Midwest's dome. January was here and it had reared its ugly head, sending week-long blizzards and white-outs into the Midwestern Region. The Confederation of the Texan Republic, had been worried about the little ally due north of them, but these Midwesterners had other plans than being frozen to death.
However, they were used to such temperatures. The Ottawans hadn't stopped working to reinvent their home, their city, their territory. By spring, they'd expanded their little project and changed how Ottawa looked forever.
"Attention all passengers. Please have your paperwork ready as we are now five minutes from the station."
As a train coming from the C.T.R crossed the "Old Ottawa Train Bridge", it became clear to the Texans aboard, their quote, "Little Ally Due North" wasn't so little anymore. The train routes had completely changed, forcing all incoming trains to enter from the Southside of Ottawa. As they entered a new tunnel, the only light coming into the train's passenger cars were the small repurposed bridge lights. However, exiting the tunnel found the passengers arriving at the "Two Rivers Train Station". As the train came to a stop, Keith led the resistance and the tech tycoon off the train, uniformed G.O.B Soldiers ushered them into what the Greater Ottawa Customs. Announcements would play every fifteen to twenty minutes or whenever the next available train would arrive.
"Good Afternoon President Keith, Everyone, and Welcome to Greater Ottawa."
"I wasn't expecting Ottawa to have changed so much." Said President Keith as he handed everyone's papers to the officer."
"It's called "Greater Ottawa now, and it seems all your paperwork checks out! Enjoy your time in our great city!"
As the group exited the Chief Roalson was waiting to escort them to where they'd be staying.
"Hello everyone! I am the Greater Ottawa Chief of Police, feel free to call me Chief Roalson."
"Well, hello there Chief. We're all glad and stunned to be here." Said President Keith.
"Your driver today is none other than the Ghost's grandfather, Archie. I will escort you to where you will stay until we can get you all settled."
As the group got into the limo, Archie greeted them, and pulled out behind Chief Roalson. "I'll put on the radio for everyone."
As the radio dial clicked, 1430 WCMY came on...
"Hey, Hey! It's exactly one o'clock! Time for the afternoon news update. It's your friendly neighborhood jokester, Mike Brisson, with Greater Ottawa's News."
The song, "Ein Tag Wie Gold" kicked off in the background as Mike began his segment.
"Hey, thanks for having me on air! To kick things off, it has been a full year since the "Greater Ottawan Expansion Project" kicked off. According to the Key Council's report, it would seem that sixty-five percent of the planned changes have been completed. In other news, today is a very special day for a certain hero.... If you see the Ghost of Ottawa out there today, be sure to wish him a very happy birthday! It's a beautiful seventy degrees Fahrenheit out there today on this amazing March 26th."
"Looking at the full report of the day, President Keith of the Texan Republic has arrived in town today, along with several groups of people. We're glad you're here Mr. President!"
As the limo drove, they passed the Ghost on his walk to the Committee Council Building. As he opened the door, he took his private staircase up to his office.
"I can't think for five minutes... Mike just had to call my birthday out over the radio." He shook his head as he sat down to review a few things the Council had left for him.
"Seems that the new McKinley Student Program has been working pretty well. I'll stop by there before lunch."
As he read over the document, the new schooling system the Council had green lit had been seemingly working. McKinley was originally a singular, grade school on the Southside of Ottawa. Now, it has been made a full campus for Preschool, Grade School, High School and Associates Level College. The programs were free to enter and participate in, while paying the teachers and professors came directly from the Council's budget.
The Ghost put that file down and picked up the packet for tomorrow's meeting with President Keith. "Ugh... Today is gonna be a dozy day." Said the Ghost looking over everything they had to go over. Of governing, the Ghost knew a government needed to pass laws backed by punishment that taxed the citizens. The issue was, the Greater Ottawa Government had been a mess. The Key Council was a version of representative democracy, of sorts. They were governed by a Committee, in other words, people voted in a trustee from their district, who had a seat on the Council. Since the expansion, there would be an additional few trustee seats added with the election that was fast approaching. The Ghost groaned and shut the file.
"No sense in stressing about it now. Everyone has known that the election is coming, so we'll just roll with the punches. Now, time to get lunch and pop over to McKinley Campus. As he took a stroll, Brittany joined him on his walk to get lunch.
"What sounds good, birthday boy?"
"I'm twenty-five, Brittany. No like I'm fifteen" Laughed the Ghost.
"I know that, but you'll be the guy who stuck up for me on that playground all those years ago."
"If not me then who?"Chuckled the Ghost. "That has been my philosophy for years. You know this."
She laughed for a moment, "Tomorrow's a big day isn't it."
"Unfortunately so. From talks with President Keith to having a meeting with Dr. Sue, I'll be stretched extra thin."
"Well... what would you say if I came over for dinner?"
The Ghost looked at her as Luke handed them their sandwiches. "You know what, I'd like that."
She laughed at his confidence, "I was trying to be coy and smooth."
"I could tell. It worked." He said taking a seat on the beach on the Campus grounds.
"How come you decided to eat here?"
"Wanted to see the Campus for myself. We've worked so damn hard to get a fraction of what the American dream had to offer... I just don't want to lose that. Also, the sandwiches Luke makes here are some of the best I've ever had."
Brittany looked at his eyes. The eyes she'd witnessed at his parents house hadn't returned, rather, a soft look behind those copper-colored pupils was the only thing she saw. There was just something behind his eyes, something nobody was ever going to take away. She smiled to herself as she took a bite of the sandwich. The Ghost was right, Luke's Substation was pretty good.