As the sun's rays peaked over the Greater Ottawa horizon, the Ghost was in Washington Park. He had his mask on as he sat with his eyes closed, legs crossed, hands and arms resting on his knees and thighs. He was meditating at sunrise, and for many, this was the first time they'd seen him without his coveralls.
Their twenty-five year old hero had been keeping a secret from many. The uncovered shoulders and knee high shorts revealed the skin condition known as vitiligo, which had left his milk chocolate colored skin a shade of caramel with white patches across the various parts of his body. The relaxing clothing did nothing in the way of hiding the various scars he had either. People began to gather and stare, whispering amongst themselves. He sighed then called out to them.
"You know... It's incredibly rude to stare at someone. Seeing as you all know the stare I can give each and every one of you, mind telling me what's so fascinating about me sitting in the park?"
"It's just.... Most of us haven't seen you without your outfit on."
The Ghost shook his head and stood up and faced them.
"Is it the outfit that makes me the Ghost, or is it that you're staring at my skin?"
The crowd of people winced as he called them out. He simply shook his head, rolling up his mat. "Go on, get outta here. Back to business as usual, as we have a long day ahead of us."
As the crowd dispersed, the Ghost climbed up the stairs of the Reddick Mansion. As he grabbed the doorknob, "Mike's Good Morning Greater Ottawa Broadcast" and its introduction song of "Ein Tag Wie Gold", began echoing all over the city. The Ghost shut the door and turned on the radio as he showered.
"Good Morning Greater Ottawa! It's time for that Good Morning Show with your host.. Mr. Brisson!" said the program's announcer.
"Hey! Good Morning to all of you listeners out there! Mr. Brisson here with the latest happening in our bustling city. With the Ghost's announcement, everyone is voicing their opinions to their trustee early this morning. The only ones not in force at the Committee Building are the construction crews." Mike briefly paused, as he had taken a sip from the cup of water he had nearby.
"Do not, as they do have a delegate there with all of their concerns, but they have been hard at work about an hour and a half or more away, both east and west from here. from here. Over in the West, construction crews have been busy in Des Moines as they have been repairing the bridge to Iowa, repairing or building housing for our Western Commune of States allies, led by Miss Morgan. Additionally, the Ghost and the 451st, under General Allen's command, have been laying train-lines running from Des Moine, through the Quad Cities area then all the way to the Two Rivers Train Station, right here in Greater Ottawa." Mike paused for a moment to verify his notes.
"Meanwhile in the East, other construction crews and the newly established Greater Ottawa Army's 33rd Division, under joint direction of General Daniel and J.S.D.F General Akira, have been hard at work getting houses, rail-lines and more repaired or built in Muncie, Indiana for our Appalachian Territorial Dominion allies lead by Miss Paige Kovall, who are also pitching in to get their new home ready."
As the Ghost finished getting dressed, he drove over to the Starved Rock International Airbase. Taking an N-7 Biplane up into the sky, he flew to Des Moines then to Muncie to check on both sets of progress. Aside from slow debris clean up, both sides were coming along just nicely. He chatted with both allied leaders, then to the J.S.D.F General.
"Adjusting well?"
"So far, yes. Greater Ottawa has been very hospitable not only for us as a people, but also for the amount of women in our military, such as myself."
"That's good to hear. Greater Ottawa has been known as the "Friendly City during the city's history and we all have a deep respect for anyone who serves in the military."
"Has Greater Ottawa always been that way?"
"Mostly, but not all of US history is pleasant for plenty of us. Although, we are just human, and keep working towards progress."
As the Ghost got back in the N-7 and fired up the engine, he adjusted his era-correct pilot's goggles and roared into the sky. As he was heading back, he radioed over to the Laborers Union HQ in Greater Ottawa. However, the man at the desk had the music radio turned up way too loudly.
"Go for the Gman."
"What?"
"I said go for Gman, whatcha need?"
"Look, I can barely hear you. Tell the crew 109 that I'll be headed over there for an inspection."
"Yep, sure. I'll hope right on that."
To the Ghost's surprise, the guy had practically hung up on him as he'd flipped channel over to 2-6, local frequency of Mike's broadcast, not the Laborers frequency of 2-9. The Ghost shook his head as he closed in on Greater Ottawa's Southside. It took him about thirty minutes to finally arrive. As the N-7 touched down in the grass, the foreman hustled over to him.
"HEY! You can't... shit... Sir, what are you doing here?"
"No need to be so formal. Were you not notified that I was coming?"
"No sir. Radio's been silent for most of the day."
The Ghost shook his head. "How is the progress coming on getting the different sides of Greater Ottawa ready for our overseas allies?"
The foreman took his hardhat off briefly to wipe his brow. "All...side?"
"Yes... The construction plan to get the Japanese, Australian and Russian refugees settled in.... Let me guess. No radio calls came in to notify you."
"That's the truth of it sir."
"Go ahead and tell your crew to meet me at Laborers HQ. Have them park up the street. I have a feeling I know what's going on."
As the Ghost returned to the N-7, he fired it up and only flew with the motor on for about a minute. He cut the motor as trucks of the 109th crew rolled onto the street and parked. The HQ was on the southside, and it was gorgeous. It was practically a mansion with wide open fields, fields wide enough to land a Biplane in. Once he'd rolled to a stop, he joined up the 109th and walked inside to find "G-man" jamming out on the desk's top.
"GOSSMAN!" yelled the Foreman, immediately shutting off the radio.
"Uh.. Boss, back so soon?"
"Yea.... tell me. Any radio calls come in?"
"Nope, quiet as a mouse sir."
"That's odd... THEN WHY DID THE GHOST LAND AT THE CONSTRUCTION SITE!? WE NEVER GOT ANY OF OUR MARCHING ORDERS.... FOR THE REST OF TOWN YOU DOPE."
The Ghost stepped out from behind the foreman and shook his head. "Have him report onsite tomorrow. Pick someone trustworthy to man the radio, other I'll smash that personal one."
The Ghost left as the others laid into him. With that, the Ghost returned to the airbase, dropped off the N-7 Biplane, and drove back to the Reddick Mansion to see what plan the Council made and what concerns the citizens had left him. He was up late into the night reading them, then going over the tax codes and plans. He sighed tiredly, knowing tomorrow was going to be another busy day.