VANGUARD(99)

“This is a balance sheet showing exactly how much money was spent to find and repatriate you, Michael. This is all a matter of public record, of course.” She handed the piece of paper to him, and he gave it a cursory glance.

“Yes, I am aware of this figure. I am also aware that it was fully reimbursed to the coalition by a private donor. No public money or donations were spent on this effort.” He handed the paper back to her.

“That amount is well into six figures,” she noted. “Do you know who made that donation?”

“No,” Sophie said honestly. “We were told that the donor requested anonymity. We respected that, and we are enormously grateful to them, whoever they might be.”

“We traced the parties involved and spoke with them.”

At the time of the interview, Sophie’s heart had sunk at Annabelle’s words. This was a gross violation of someone’s privacy. She and Michael had suspected that the money had been donated by the Orlisian community, or by Maxwell and Signe themselves. Whoever it was, the donor didn’t want people to know.

“The party eventually agreed to be interviewed for this program. Would you like to see that interview?”

“Do we have a choice?” asked Michael acidly.

Annabelle laughed. “No, you don’t. Here it is.”

The Global Youth Leadership program is known the world over for its prestigious academic program. During their year abroad, the students who qualify for this program have opportunities that most of us only dream of. Meeting with world leaders and heads of state. Hands-on experience in their fields of study. Ports of call on each of the seven continents, including the Antarctic. Upon completing GYL, these young scholars have a network of contacts that most professionals do not collect in a lifetime.

But that is not, according to GYL alumni, the most valuable thing that they get from the program.

“The friendships you form as a class, the bond we have with one another, is lifelong and life altering,” came a familiar voice from the screen. Dressed in a suit and tie and looking every inch the power broker that he was, was Carter DeVries of DeVries Financial.

“Jesus, look at that. I am seriously losing my hair,” said Carter in the room. Everyone laughed.

On screen, he continued. “For our class, this has been a very difficult and emotional year. First, one of our classmates was lost in a warzone and given up for dead by nearly everyone around us. Then we watched as a second classmate risked her life to get him back. Now they’re getting dragged through the mud by the media.

“Michael is my best friend on this earth, and Sophie’s a close second. They are also two of the most stubborn people I know. Neither of them would have accepted financial help from the class directly. So we chose to give our support a different way.” Carter grinned, so proud of himself.

“The GYL class of 2002 paid the bill for these costs, willingly, voluntarily. Every penny, and then some.” His grin broadened. “Welcome home, guys.”

The camera returned to Michael and Sophie. On screen, she wept and even Michael’s eyes seemed suspiciously shiny. Annabelle smiled.

“You have very loyal friends, you know.” Both of them nodded, still stunned. “There are fifty people in your class, plus a number of road staff. Not one of them would speak to our reporters until Carter DeVries came forward to make this statement on their behalf.”

“We’re pretty tight,” Sophie said.

“Any final thoughts that you wanted to share? Sophie?”

“Only to say thank you from the bottom of my heart to all the people who made it possible for me to find Michael again. I didn’t do any of this alone, and I’m grateful for the support I’ve received.”

“Michael?”

“I want an end to this war,” he said passionately. “I want Orlisia to be free again. Those are real people in Parnaas who have lost their homes, their families. Their captors would have them forced into slave labor. The world cannot stand by and allow this to happen, no matter how large and powerful the Soviet Republic is. I beg the United Nations to continue to take swift action to end the occupation and free my country.”

“Thank you for speaking with us. We are happy you are safe on American soil again.” Annabelle turned to the camera. “We leave you tonight with some still images of the Parnaas refugee camp, provided courtesy of the Refugee Crisis Coalition. I’m Annabelle Hunter. Goodnight.”

The pictures created a beautiful and haunting montage. At the end, the screen dissolved into darkness, and they showed a list of agencies where viewers could donate money or learn more about the refugee situation in Orlisia. When that disappeared, it was replaced by the address where viewers could obtain more information about GYL.