“Stop it!” Nathan grabbed her arm, pulling it back down as she giggled. She had always enjoyed pushing his buttons. “Are you nuts? She’ll see us.” He looked toward his mother, trying to determine if she had spotted them. She was speaking to an older gentlemen and a young blonde woman, and as best he could tell, his sister’s wave had gone unnoticed.
“Who’s the blonde she’s talking to?”
“Relax, little brother. She’s not your type. Some scientist or something,” she explained. “So, are you ready for the media circus?”
“For the what?”
“The media circus. You know, the press, the paparazzi?”
“What are you talking about, Miri?”
“Haven’t you talked to Dad yet?” she asked, somewhat surprised.
“Been trying to avoid that even more. Why?”
“Oh, nothing,” she lied. “Never mind,” she added, deciding to let her younger brother be surprised like all the other guests.
“What? Tell me?” he demanded, noticing the sly little smile on her face. He had seen that grin too many times in his life, and knew full well it meant trouble.
“Shush! Your father is giving a speech,” she teased.
Nathan turned back to the bar and picked up his drink. “When isn’t he giving a speech?” he muttered to himself, taking another sip.
“Founders Day is the moment in history when humanity finally took responsibility for its future. As a whole, we made a commitment to ensure that all of the reclaimed technological wonders of our forefathers would be used wisely, for the betterment of all humanity, and not just the few that could afford them. The founding of the Ark Institute and the tenants upon which it was based would one day lead to the creation of the very republic which provides for and protects the entire population of the Earth today! It was that moment, that one perfect moment, that simple clarity of purpose that quickly brought all of the people of Earth together in a way that had never been done before. The knowledge bestowed upon us by the Data Ark has done more to change and improve our lives over the last century than all of the centuries of darkness that came before.”