A comfortably warm mid-summer afternoon on an island floating in the sky has so much potential. And yet Shara sat amidst some of her colleagues, preparing for an election debate. At least the stage was set up on the square before the parliament. The perpetual sun rays shone upon the political representatives and the gathered audience.
  “The moderator of the debate just came by,” Shara said to Lou, the leader of her party, who was standing next to her, “she let us know that the debate will be concluded by some questions from the press.”
  “Good, thanks for informing me.” Lou Rut then asked her, “how are you feeling?”
  Shara blinked a few times and answered, “I’m fine, thank you sir. Four years ago were the real stuff. Since then I have gained quite some more experience.”
  That made Lou laugh heartedly. He laid a hand on her lower back while she led them to the stage. Her job today luckily did not encompass participating in the whole debate. Instead, she would sit behind Lou Rut while he battled the other presidential nominees over statements given by the moderator. Shara was only there for in-depth and factual substantiation of the arguments Lou would pose.
  Not much time had passed until the debate began. Although it seemed much longer, because the audience had greatly grown in size. Or maybe our citizens are just really good at arriving just in time, Shara thought.
  “And finally we have the presidential nominee from the People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy: Lou Rut. He is assisted by our current Secretary of Aerial Transport, Shara Joz” the moderator said, thereby concluding her introduction of the participants.
  Shara admitted to herself that she did not feel particularly interested when the debate properly began. The leader of the Socialisty party had claimed the topic on healthcare and she was now rambling on about how terrible it all had become. Shara shook her head in mild amusement. Just how uninformed some of them could be.
  A new topic was thrown into the pit by the moderator. Shara did not really pick up on it, until Lou redirected a question to her.
  “Allow my Secretary to answer this question with all her due authority.”
  Shara snapped to attention.
  Lou continued by, blessedly, repeating his claim and requesting Shara to confirm his argument.
  With the knowledge and authority from her current position, she could do just that, thereby justifying the point of view of her party.
  After several more of such inquiries, and after much more dramatic rhetorics, the debate came to an end. Shara half listened while the moderator thanked all participants and addressed the audience.
  “Now that we have seen the internal mingling of our political representatives, let us conclude with a few questions from the gathered press.”
  Shara straightened while several people came forth. Nominees were asked for their aspirations as president, which could make nice and bite-sized stories in the newspapers. So of course the policitians delivered.
  At a certain point a young woman stepped forth.
  “I am from the paper Follow the Money and we want to know what Shara Joz has to say to the accusations of her conflict of interest in the doubtful acquisition of the state Air Cargo Company.”
  Shara stiffened immediately. Her mouth became a single line and her eyes spun around, metaphorically.
  “Oh my,” Lou Rut began, “I have never heard of such accusations before and we can therefore give no further comment on the matter.”
  He is protecting me, Shara thought, even though he actually does not know anything about it. Although Lou would of course also act in the best interest of the public relations of the party. He would not think solely of protecting me, she thought. Or, maybe not at all. This could get her in some serious trouble.
  “I think you misunderstood. We want to hear a reaction from Miss Joz herself.”
  Shara must have had a look of desperation on her face, because Lou jumped a little when he turned to look at her.
  She had to think about the public image of her party, but no, her own personal integrity was more important. Why did this always haunt her? How did she escape this pesky journalist without it becoming a public debacle in the newspapers tomorrow?