The One

The Secretary of Health.” He frowns.

“Beth Harper?”

“Yes, why? It is just a precaution. Some in the line has to sit it out. That's all.”

“I know,” He drops into the seat in front of the desk, “ is the country ready for a female president?”

His boss laughs. “Yes. Besides that, if she becomes that, the country will have a bigger problem than her gender.”

“A very good point.”

She sits in her office, signing papers when the President walks in. Startled, she jumps up.

“Good evening sir.”

“Relax Beth. Please have a seat.” she sits back down.

“I wasn't expecting you sir.”

“I have been preparing for the State of the Union.”

“Oh, is there something you need from me?”

“Yes, to be my designated survivor.”

“Sir?”

“During the speech someone in the line of succession must sit it out in case someone blows up the capital building or something. Just a precaution. You must keep the country going.”

“Of course. What will I need to do?”

“Just sit it out. The Secret Service will protect you until the speech ends. You can watch it from the outer office of the Oval with the two members of Congress that are also so designated.”

“Thank you sir. I mean, what will I need to do, in the just in case?”

He smiles. That question is why he chose her.

“Rebuild the government. Each state will need to hold elections for representatives and senators. The vice president will need to be elected by them. I would hope you would get vengeance on my murderers.”

“Absolutely sir.”

“Very good.”

She knows the two congressional members. Sam Frederick from her own state of Kentucky, the senator and Zera Carter from Ohio, the representative. They talk a bit nervously together.

“A precaution,” Sam says, “that's all this is.”

“A smart one,” Zera agrees, “right Madame President.”

Beth rolls her eyes. “Please don't even joke like that.”

They watch as the president enters the chamber to the applause of most. He is popular as a moderate with both parties. Smiles and shaking hands. He walks up to the podium and starts his speech.

Beth hadn't worked on it, that was the communication team, still the polices are familiar to her. Zera frowns a few times. Yes, there are things the Democrats don't like. Still, most ideas are central.

They all breath better as the speech starts to wrap up. That is when it happens.

A flash of light so intense that they all move instinctly away from the TV as if the explosion is with them. The explosive sound follows a second later. They all three gasp, their breaths stolen by the immensity of the moment. The screen goes blank.

Behind them, the secret service agents share looks. A quick check in via radio confirms the unbelievable. The capital building and all inside are gone.

“Madame President,” he is at her elbow,” come with us.”

Similar agents are escorting Sam and Zera.

“A dream. A nightmare.” She thinks as she is whisked away. The night before she had a similar one. Being the designated survivor is an awesome responsibility. This is just another one. It has to be.

The hands on her arms are real, too real. The prayers Sam and Zera are praying behind her are too. She has never been in the bunker before so how could she be dreaming of it?

“This is real, isn't it?”

“Yes.” The agent closest to her says. They all enter and the bunker is secured.

“Have the DS’s secured.” He reports to whoever is out there.

“What now?” Beth asks. The adrenaline is making her nauseous.

“We stay here until we know the White House is secure. A situation report is being assembled by the Secret Service and military. They will report to you. You will be sworn in “

“By whom? The court was…”

“All but one Madame President. The junior jurist stayed out. Like you and the others for the continuity of government.”

The weight of the situation covers her, steeling her spine and resolve. Her country depends on her.

“Need the highest military officer that is still alive. We are under attack. Our forces need to be hardened.”

“Yes, Madame President.” He says something into his radio.

She turns to her congress fighting the nervous giggles that come with the knowledge they are all her congress. “It might not be protocol but would you sit in on the situational report meeting?”

“Absolutely. I think we may be required too.” Sam replies. His hands bounce on his thighs and his eyes scan the room not seeming to see anything.

“Agree. We are all in this together.” Zera keeps biting at her lip. Beth wonders if she is even aware of it.

“Ruth-Anne!” With all going on she temporarily forgot her child, “I need her here, and my parents.”

“They are secured, all your families are, and will be brought here as soon as we know the White House isn't a target.”

“It could be. It makes sense that it is. When can we get that security briefing?”

“They are preparing it now, Madame President.”

The door opens and all but the agents jump. “The junior jurist.” They are told.

Ben James was just sworn in a month before. He looks as nervous as they all feel.

“I am here to swear you into the presidency.” He announces. The shock is written all on his face , bone white and his shaking hands that hold a bible. It is his personal one. A religious man, he has been reading Palms while watching the State of the Union. Until the screen went blank and several Secret Service agents came running in.

All his colleagues are gone. It is a thought he cannot wrap his head around.

“Yes. That is important.”

The Head Justice had shown him how to do this, “Just in case.” No one imagined.

“Place your right hand on the bible. Raise your left hand.”

She does, wondering if it counts with her heart in her throat and her hand shaking. Not that she ever imagined doing this but if she ever was so blessed,she couldn't imagine it being like this. No crowds of people, the previous president standing by her side, her family on the other side.

“I, Elizabeth Rebecca Harper, do solemnly swear and affirm that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic.”

“Congratulations Madam President.” Ben James automatically says before he places his hands over his mouth.

“Don't worry. Alright, what's next?”:

“A security briefing. We have determined that the White House is safe. You will be moved to the situation room.”

“Safe. Good. Then I want Ruth-Anne and my parents brought here.”

“Of course Madam President. After the briefing.”

“No, before. I need to see if she is alright.”

“Good for you.” Zera murmurs.

“Alright. We will have them brought in right away.”

She falls back into the seat behind her. Madame President! That is her. How in the world did this happen? It was just to be a bullet point on her resume. Something to later tell Ruth-Anne. A story about being the designated survivor. Now she is the President!

It seems to take forever. Her daughter and parents aren't that far away, just a few miles. Why is it taking so long?

Finally, her nerves at their breaking point, she asks.

“Excuse me.” She addresses the secret service officer left in the room with them.

“Yes Madam President?”

“What is taking so long to get my child and parents here? They are only a few miles away.”

“I will find out.”

“The roads have to be a mess.” Sam says.

“Right. That is probably it.” Zera agrees.

A second later so does the secret service agent.

“Madame President. Your family is secure and on the way here. The roads are, well some aren't even there anymore. They will be brought safely to you.”

A few minutes later…

“Mommy!” she holds her baby close, “mommy there was a big bang. It hurts my ears. Grandma and Grandpa took me to the basement.”

“Thank you.” She addresses them, tears running down her eyes.

“Beth, what is happening? Is it true that… are they all gone?” her dad asks.

“And you are the president?” Her mom adds.

“Yes and yes.”

“Madame President, I understand that you need to see them safe but the briefing…”

“Mommy has to go. You will be safe here with your grandparents.” she frames her child's face, looking into her eyes, “mommy will be back. You will keep her safe?” She addresses her parents but it is the agent that answers.

“With my life.”

She and her congress, both members, are led out of the room, leaving a shell shocked family behind with several serious men.

The situation room was smaller than she imagined it would be. It is full of men who look as shell shocked as she feels. They all stand as she enters.

“Madame President, Congressman Abrams, Representative Harold.” The man at the head of the table addresses them.

She sees he is the Assistant Secretary of Defense, General Kelly. It is a relief to see him. It is like coming home from school with a problem and being able to hand it to your father.

“General Kelly, now what?”

“Please have a seat Madame President,” he directs her to a seat beside him. The Senate is also seated near her, “Now this is what we know now.”

“It seemed to be a bomb.”

“Well of course it was a bomb,” she cries out, “we felt it all the way here, for God's sake!”

They all fall silent. It is then she understands the power behind her new position. Never, in her life, has one of her outbursts silenced a room. Especially a room full mainly of serious men.

“I’m sorry. Please continue.”

“This is your room Madam President.” he comments.

“But your information sir. Please continue.”

He nods. “We don't yet know how it got into the building. As you know, the Capital is thoroughly searched before the State of the Union, including with bomb sniffing dogs. This should have never happened. We promise to get to the bottom of it. The investigation has already begun. The FBI and CIA as well as other government agencies, are on site.”

She nods. “Will we be able to recover the president? Or anyone else?”

“We shall try Madam President.”

“Very good. He, ahh, they all deserve a proper burial. I believe the country needs that as well.”

“Yes Madam President.” Representative Harold says.

“I believe we can all get behind that.” General Kelly agrees.

“Any suspects?” The serious men share looks, “please feel free to speak freely.

“Yes Madam President. It is just..”

“Just.” She gives him a piercing look.

“We don't usually share this type of information with Congress.” A half not to the Senator and Representive.

“This aren't quite normal times, are they?” She doesn't wait on his answer, “we three represent all that is left of the federal government. There is no other. No Supreme court sans the Junior Jurist, not hundreds in the Congress, not even a Vice president,” this speech gets louder as she goes along, “just us three. Now whatever you have to tell me, no tell us, we are ready to hear it.”

“Of course, Madam President.”

He nods to his under secretary who pushes a button that activates the big screen in front of them.

“This wasn't the standard attack,” an understatement they all let go by. Indeed it wasn't, “so the usual suspects, the Taliban, Hamas, and the like, well we don't believe them capable of such a bold strike. We believe it might be from a state actor.”

“Another country!” Sam blurts out, “who would be so bold!”

He blushes when he realizes it wasn't his place to express such an outburst.

Beth waves him off before turning to the nervous young man. “What he said.”

He clicks another button and a list appears. “Madam President, Senator, this are the top suspects.”

China

Russia

Ukraine

North Korea

She studies them. “This are the top suspects because they are our nations enemies or do we have a reason why they would want to do this. Any evidence?”

General Kelly takes back over. “The CIA has heard some chatter. Some rumbling. The talk of pulling out of NATO made us look weak. The perception was that now was the time to hit us.”

“Good Lord! Then why was the State of the Union allowed to happen!”

“Madam President, there was just rumbling, nothing definite. Were there…”

“It would never been allowed to happen.” She completes.

“Yes.”

“What were we doing about the rumblings now?”

“We have assets in everyone of this nations. We will also be monitoring any and all sympathy calls you receive. If any of these nations are involved, trust me, Madam President, we will find out.”

“Then you will have a decision to make.” Sam adds.

The weight was suddenly to much. She collapses back in her seat, her head falling into her hands.

“That isn't right now, though.” Zera says. She nods.

“Okay. I need to speak to the nation.”

“From the

Oval?” Someone asks.

“Yes,” she looks to her Congress, “with you behind me. They need to know we are working together. A speech with no questions from the press yet.”

“We will set it up. Do you want the speech written?”

She weakly nods. Half a dozen people scatter.