//------------------------------//
// Interlude: People and Politics 
// Story: The Sparkle in his Eye 
// by Tatsurou 
//------------------------------//

	Ratchet and Sasha sat back aboard the Phoenix, watching the news feed.  Ratchet lay back with one hand behind his head, while Sasha stretched across the couch with her head on his shoulder and her arms crossed on her stomach.  The news feed discussed President Phyronix's latest polls, and how public opinion of him was at an all time low.  Qwark's latest news feed had attributed success against Nefarious to the combined efforts of the Q-Force...under the joint leadership of Ratchet and Captain Sasha Phyronix, downplaying his own role in the efforts, going so far as to say his own showboating during the crisis was a ploy to lull Nefarious into a false sense of security where the real heroes of the day were concerned.  Since President Phyronix had appointed Qwark to lead the fight against Nefarious over his own daughter, this did not play well in the polls for him.

"I know Dad's not the best of leaders," Sasha admitted candidly as they watched, a rare moment of privacy for them given the hectic life aboard the Phoenix.  It had actually taken the assertion that, as a military vehicle, the Phoenix was off limits to civilians in order to get the press to stop showing up.  Thankfully, every member of the Q-Force had been awarded a military rank as part of their reward for their efforts in defeating Nefarious, so no exceptions had to be made.  "But he does try his best."

"He's a rather hands off sort of leader," Ratchet replied.  "He listens enough to figure out what the problem is, finds someone who's an expert in the problem, tells them to solve it, then leaves them to do it.  It could be worse."

"Yeah," Sasha replied.  "And his primary opponent in this next election is worse..."  She gestured to the other side of the news feed, where her Father's primary political opponent was giving his speech, which mostly consisted of denouncing President Phyronix as an idiot and calling for a new leader that actually had a brain to bring a change to how the galaxy was run.  None of his speech actually stated what sort of change he intended to bring.  "He thinks he's smarter than he is.  He's the sort to try and fix things himself."

Ratchet shuddered.  "The last leader I encountered like that was Chairmen Drek of the Blargh."

"Exactly," Sasha replied.  "It looks like the galaxy is going to have to pick between bad or worse..."

Ratchet was silent in thought for a time.  "Unless someone ran against them from a third party," Ratchet suggested.  "Someone with the charisma, confidence, and reputation to garner popular support even without major party backing."

Sasha looked up at him.  "You aren't seriously suggesting Qwark run for Galactic President, are you?"

"Heck no!" Ratchet countered.  "He'd be as bad as your father!  He's still learning that he's not as smart as he thinks he is.  We'd need someone who actually knows what they're doing in command.  Someone with successful leadership experience that involved more than 'this is what you do, figure out how yourself'.  Someone who covered themselves in glory in this latest conflict."

Sasha chuckled.  "Well, I'd certainly vote for you," she replied, leaning up to kiss him on the cheek.

Ratchet blushed, but shook his head.  "I wouldn't do good at the top of the chain.  I know my limits.  I'm a blunt instrument.  In battle or in a lab, I know what to do and how to do it...but politics?  Governing?  Diplomacy?  I'd be lost at sea if I tried.  It would have to be someone smarter than me."

"Twilight's turning ten next month," Sasha replied.  "Even with a celebrity, military, and corporate career under her belt, she can't run for political office until she's at least 16."

Ratchet burst into laughter.  "No way would I suggest Twilight run the galaxy.  You've seen what she's like when she comes up with something new to experiment with.  Do you even want to imagine what would happen if she got like that with the resources of the entire galaxy at her disposal?"

Sasha began to picture that.





Specters of long forgotten beasts out of myth and legend rampaged through the galaxy.  Planets were torn apart, or tore themselves apart as they unfolded into hellish beasts.  Mind flayers and other beasts far worse hunted the living, while the dead rose from their graves to sing hellish hymns of praise to the unleashed abominations.

In the midst of it all, Twilight took notes.  "While the Elder Gods prove an excellent source of free energy, the side effects of tapping them are not worth the profit."  She turned.  "Daddy!  I made a mess!"





Sasha shuddered.  "Yeah, definitely don't put her in charge of anything bigger than a squad of Rangers or a labful of interns until she's grown up."  She smiled as Ratchet laughed at her vehement reaction.  "But who else could you mean?"

Ratchet looked down at her with a smirk and a raised eyebrow.

Sasha's eyes widened in shock.  "Me?  You can't be serious.  I'm an officer, not a politician."

"A lot of military types go into politics," Ratchet countered.  "You'd certainly do a better job than anyone else running, being your father's daughter will be an advantage because his political social circles will already know you, and Captain Qwark's already endorsed your leadership qualities.  You'd win easily, and it would be good for the galaxy."

Sasha thought about that for a time.  "...you really think I should?" she asked softly.

"Why did you join the military?" Ratchet asked, seeming to change the subject.

"To prove myself, and to serve the needs of the Solana Galaxy and its people," she replied without hesitation.

"Well, the galaxy needs a strong leader, and its people need someone who cares more about them than their own political ambitions," Ratchet replied.

Sasha was silent as she let his words sink in, mulling them over as the political news feed continued to play.  "You realize if I actually did this...I wouldn't have time for the Phoenix...or you and Twilight."

"I know," Ratchet replied, his voice tinged with sadness that matched Sasha's.  "But your Dad's going to lose this election.  Nothing will change that.  And you'd be miserable if that guy was giving you orders."  Ratchet jerked his thumb at the other politico.  "He strikes me as the expansionist sort, who thinks the solution to any problem is to start a war somewhere."

"True," Sasha allowed.  She began running her hand over the nearby bulkhead.  "I'd hate to leave the Phoenix, though.  I'd want to be sure she was in good hands."

Ratchet grinned.  "Well, Admiral," he joked, reminding her of the promotion she'd received as a result of her contributions to stopping Nefarious, "I do agree that the Phoenix needs a good Captain."  He playfully gestured to the bars on his own uniform.

Sasha managed a smirk.  "Well, you do seem to have an answer for everything...Captain."

"I try...Admiral," Ratchet teased back.

Grinning, Sasha reached up to cup his face in both hands.  "So...what should I do with you now?"  She lifted her face slowly towards his.

Ratchet lowered his face towards her.

"You should get a room!" Twilight called from the door.  "One with a lock, maybe?"

Ratchet and Sasha both froze as the wave of giggles indicated that their moment of privacy had ended.