A Power Unknown

Gene looked at Aimee who was sleeping on the plane, and he flipped open his phone.

"Mr. Coppola? Those Valkyrie missiles I enquired about... Yes.. Issued? Very good. Then the strategic bombers, fighters and attack helicopters? How about their firearm? Ah... I see! Very good job, Mr. Coppola! What? The Israelis are willing to- Of course! Immidiately! I'll fund the building of your next factory! Oh yes, you have organized the event that I requested right? Da? Very good! The money will be wired to you, Mr. Coppola. Enjoy yourself!" Gene laughed, conversing in fluent Russian.

Gene hung up, smiling ruefully at his phone.

Aimee would be surprised later on, of course, but for now, let her sleep.

Aimee murmured and turned over in her sleep whacking her head somewhat painfully on the arm rest of the plane, groaning she frowned in her sleep beginning to rouse from it and she sat up, streching her limbs out to remove the stiffness from getting cramped up in her position.

She smiled when she saw Gene and thought that it was sweet of him to conduct his business when she was busy, meant they could spend more time together.

"Hello handsome, did you manage to catch much sleep?"

"Hello Aimee. Yes, I caught a lot of sleep. We're touching down soon. There's a surprise. Do not peek out of the windows though!" Gene said, rummaging through his bag and giving her a fine fur coat.

"Siberia is extremely cold. You won't survive hours without thick clothing." Gene smiled, as he sat down and offered her a glass of white wine.

Aimee tilted her head to one side and she wondered where they could be, instead of making her not want to look out of the window she now wanted to look out of it even more! Biting her lip she peeked out of one, seeing a whole lot of snow. Where were they?

"Fur coat hmmm?"

Smiling she took the coat from him and slipped it on over her skinny jeans and checkered shirt, she had worn boots today thinking it might be wise.

"I'll make sure to keep myself wrapped up then, dont want to get frostbite!"

Gene took a deep breath as the plane touched down.

He took Aimee's hand and helped her up, and straightened her fur coat.

"You need to look good..." Gene said, and ignored the look of confusion on her face.

As he stepped out, there was a wave of men who came to attention, holding their Galil assault rifles across their chest, and saluted Gene.

"At ease, men!" Gene shouted, and there was another stomping of a foot, where they slung their assault rifles behind their back.

"Soldiers, salute!" An officer shouted in Russian, and the tanks nearby fired blank shells into the air.

"Come, Aimee." Gene smiled, as he saluted the officers, and taking her hand, Aimee and him got into a limousine.

"Those were Israeli assault rifles they were carrying, and those are German Leopald tanks. There's more." Gene said, trying to explain to Aimee what is going on.

Aimee bit her lip as she was told that she needed to look good, she frowned a little and tried to supress the feeling to scold Gene and tell him that as his girlfriend she should always look good no matter what she wore. Sighing as the plane opened Aimee's eyes widened as she saw what was outside.

"Uh....Gene?"

She whispered, and jumped as the soldiers fired their shots into the air. It was safe to say, she was very very confused.

"What is..."

Aimee was taken into a limosine and she would have been stunned enough if that was all that happened, but what was that army thing about?!

"...going on?"

"I control a private muggle army. Let's just say that I own an army of my own." Gene said simply, and offered her champagne.

"I'm rich, and I raise an army. To safeguard the interests in Siberia against insurgents or rebels." Gene said, as his bomber and fighter escorts flew overheard.

"It is no big deal. My army is tiny compared to the Russian army. It is only a hundred thousand men. Fully equipped, trained, and ready for all-out war against any provokers." Gene said, as the limousine made a turn near a farmhouse, and the people stopped whatever they were doing and saluted, smiles on their faces.

"The army is called the Liberation Army if you are interested." Gene said, sipping his champagne.

"Look. It is only a hundred thousand men. Not counting the airforce and navy of course."

Aimee bit her lip and looked around, she had no idea that Gene was so interested in wars and fighting and now that she did she felt a little uneasy, more so than she had ever been around him and she wasn't sure that she liked it.

Sighing deeply she took the champagne and sipped it gently, Aimee tried her best not to frown when Gene described the army as 'only 100,000' those were still thousands of lives all under Gene's control and each man should count!

Deciding to keep quiet she looked out of the window, taking in the surroundings, all the militaria equipment in her opinion marring the beautiful scenery that would have once been there.

Gene looked at the expression of her face and he understood. She was a healer. He understood.

"A few years back, Siberia was a warzone. It was chaotic. I moved in and united the place, and the Russian government closes one eye while I PEACEFULLY unite all the warlords under me."

"Aimee... I only use this army to protect the people here. My soldiers have a good reputation here. Ask around. I have never killed anyone with my army in my life." Gene said, pointing to the many people who had rushed out of their houses to cheer on the advancing contingent of escort.

"I see."

Aimee did not really find the joy in being shown around an army base, nor did she see why these people were celebrating violence but she appreciated that sometimes to get the right result for the people who were living in an oppressed country.

"Well I dont think it's wise for me to tell you my beliefs, I don't want to hurt your feelings."

Sighing she drunk the rest of her champagne and looked at the floor of the limo. Aimee did not really want to think about armies right now, she never liked thinking about them, brought up bad memories from her past.

"Aimee... I'll say something simple. You see, this army helps maintains peace in the region. Once it is gone, the warlords move in, millions will die. I am keeping it to protect. Not hurt. Aimee..." Gene moved closer to her.

"If you want, I'll disband it. I really came here for a nobel task. Siberia has been plagued by a drought. My army has been commanded to open the granary and distribute food to the affected people. It is a salvation mission. You can help the sick, if you want to be involved. We're THAT kind of army." Gene said, pointing at the barren fields.

"I can disband my army if you don't like it, Aimee." Gene smiled, kissing her on the cheek.

Aimee sighed and rested her head on the cool glass of the window, she didn't want to talk about this she just wanted to leave, she didn't want to help the sick people right now, she just wanted to go away from Gene, have a good cry and come back when she felt better. But of course she wasn't able to do that.

"I don't want to have anything to do with this side of your business Gene. I don't care what you do with it, obviously if people will be hurt then don't disband it."

Sighing again she gulped, trying to hold back the lump in her throat from turning into tears. Aimee hated crying in front of people.

"Love, what's wrong?" Gene asked, the limousine suddenly leaving the contingent, leaving the army behind, who were going towards the salvation zones

Gene sat beside Aimee and hugged her, "Oh... My love... My darling... I hunger for your touch. A long.. Lonely time... And time... Goes by... So slowly..."

Gene sang softly, patting Aimee on the shoulders for every word he sang.

"Aimee... What's wrong?" Gene said, his voice with geniuine concern.

Aimee sniffled a little, she wiped at her eyes with her hand and tried to make the tears that were lingering on them go away but of course they didn't she took in a deep breath and tried to at least stop a sob from rising in her throat.

She snuggled into Gene's chest and curled her fingers in his hair, sobbing softly into his shirt as she did so, normally Aimee never cried in front of people but today was the exception.

"I...I'm sorry I never normally act like this, I'm sorry I'm being so ungrateful."

Sniffling Aimee kissed Gene's cheek.

"It's just, I've never liked the Army ever since, well, ever since my Uncle got taken as a Prisoner of war in Iraq, he was a great man and I miss him very much..."

"Shh... Aimee..." Gene's heart ached as her tears fell.

"Iraq... Saddam? I had a part in toppling him... I am... Sorry to hear about your uncle." Gene muttered, before falling unusually silent.

"I feel like an ass now... What have I done?" He whispered to himself, stroking Aimee's hair.

"We'll go to some place special okay?" Gene forced a smile, though he was holding back tears of his own as Aimee's fell.

Aimee continued to cry, but this time silently onto Gene's warm chest, she nuzzled her head against his shoulder and tried to forget about her uncle for now because she could tell by Gene's silence that he wasn't happy about the situation either.

"Shhh Gene...I'm sorry I didn't tell you before I just didn't know that you were going to take me here, please dont be upset."

Aimee smiled sadly and kissed Gene softly on the lips, tracing his cheek bone with her thumb.

"Please don't be sad Gene, he's in a good place now, I guess...."

A smile graced her lips once more and Aimee buried her head into Gene's shoulder, she didn't need to go anywhere special but she wouldn't mind it, after all, anywhere she went with Gene was special.

"Sorry Aimee... I am sorry."

"We're going to a ski resort in Siberia... It is good to ski this time of the year. You know how to ski?" Gene asked, managing a small smile.

He looked away from Aimee and wiped his rapidly wetting eyes, before clearing his throat and hugging Aimee again.

"I'll bear it in my mind, Aimee. I will." Gene said absent-mindedly, and he fell silent.

After a moment, he took out his guitar and sighed.

"Looks like we can do with a piece of music huh." Gene smiled.

"All my bags are packed... I'm ready to go... I'm standing here outside the door... I hate to wake you up to say goodbye... But the dawn is breaking... Taxi's waiting... Blown its horn. Already I'm so lonesome I could die... So kiss me and smile with me! Tell me that you'll wait for me! Hold me like you'll never let me go!" Gene sang, the tone of the music getting happier.

Aimee saw that Gene had to wipe his eyes after they had talked so she had no idea what to do, she had never really seen a man cry before and she was more than a little nervous about the fact that she had made him cry.

"No sorry, I don't know how to ski very well I had a few lessons as a child but I've forgotten them all now."

Smiling a little brighter Aimee, cupped Gene's cheek with her hand and kissed him softly, fully, on the mouth, letting her love show through the kiss.

"Music huh? You carry that guitar around everywhere with you?"

Aimee listened to the music that Gene played carefully, and though at first it sounded depressing as it continued it got much much happier and for that Aimee was thankful, she didn't want to feel sad anymore.

"You really are a lovely player."

"Hey, its a limousine for a reason." Gene said, pointing at the ocarina and guitar case at the side.

"By the way, the people there, their english is not good. Just stay near me, alright?" Gene smiled, as the limousine drove up the windy hill.

"Look. We'll be taking that cable car later." Gene pointed.

"Aimee, if anything upsets you in the future, let me know. I will never repeat it again." Gene said earnestly, hugging his girlfriend.

Gene hesitated before kissing her gently on the lips, and then stroking her hair.

"You feel better now?" Gene asked, and offered her more champagne.

Aimee grinned Gene had a point because the limo was so large it might as well have 10 guitars in and it wouldn't feel cramped to her. It was all to perfect in Genes world, even more perfect now she knew him.

"I always had a thing for accents, I could listen to a Russian talk for hours and just melt inside."

Winking to let Gene know it was a joke Aimee looked out the window at the cable car.

"Will it get stuck like on those muggle movies?"

She giggled, Aimee nodded slowly and took the champagne from Gene sipping it lightly, she was indeed feeling better now they had moved on with the conversation.

"You are beautiful, Miss Cooper." Gene shot in rapid Russian and laughed at her look of surprise.

"It means, you are beautiful, Miss Cooper." Gene said, sipping his glass of white wine.

"Getting stuck up there isn't really a problem for us, wizards. Is it?" Gene said, looking at the cable cars that were moving towards an even higher mountain.

"Anyway, I have a present for you." Gene said, and reached into the back of the seat, and took out a box.

He opened it, and there sat a large round pearl.

"It is expensive, but this is not why is it special." Gene said, and he switched off the lights in the limousine, and drew the blinds.

The pearl started to glow gently, illuminating the place with the colours of Ravenclaw.

"Whoever holds this, I'll know what house you were in last time." Gene said, and placed it in the hands of Aimee.

"Well, let's see what this illuminating pearl tells me in your hands."

Aimee blushed and turned her head away from gene as he spoke to her in Russian, and she blushed even more when she found out what he had said. Giggling a little she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and bit her lip trying not to get too carried away with the giggles.

"Merci mon amour..."

She whispered back before smiling once more and shrugging her shoulders.

"I know it's not a problem, it's just really romantic and cliche and it would be cute if it were to happen."

Aimee frowned a little when Gene said that he had gotten her another present:

"Geeennnneeeee but you know I can't give you any presents back!"

She pouted but as she saw the pearl her interest was sparked, even more so when gene turned off the lights and she was left to see the blue glow coming from the pearl, grinning and taking it from him it went dull for a moment before glowing that same blue colour.

"Looks like I'd be a Claw."

Gene made a mental note to himself, it'll be cool that their cable car jammed? Noted.

"Awww! Fellow Ravenclaw!" Gene said, hugging Aimee, before placing that pearl back into the box and giving it to her.

"Looks like we're meant for each other." Gene whispered into Aimee's ears, before gently kissing her lips.

"I haven't worked out for sometime." Gene muttered, as the car pulled to a slow, and getting out, he surveyed the long distance that he would need to go through before reaching the cable car station.

"Come on, Aimee! Do anything you want if you win the race to the mountain top!" Gene shouted, and warming up his legs, he started running through the snow-covered terrain towards the mountain top.

Aimee smiled and as Gene whispered into her ear she shuddered a little, blushing once more, she frowned again as Gene said that he hadn't worked out in a while, from what she had seen he didn't need to work out he had a great body on his own.

"You don't need to work out Gene..."

As he got out of the car and began to run Aimee growled, unbuckled her seatbelt and sprang out of the car following him.

Although her feet were getting stuck in the snow as she ran Aimee managed to catch up to Gene, a large stitch developing in her side but she kept on going until she was a little further ahead than Gene her breath streaming behind her in a cloud of smoke.

"I'm winning! Aha!"

Gene gave a small smile as he allowed Aimee ahead of him.

He quickened his speed of running, tapped Aimee on the shoulder, before sprinting, reaching the Cable Car station in less than a minute.

He made sure to block the view of Aimee from the man, who had immidiately stood up and saluted him.

"Field Marshall Downie. How may I be of assistance?" He asked slowly, in fluent Russian.

"At ease... I'm not a dictator... The Russian government still owns this place. I only make things more reasonable for the people. Anyway, I need two tickets to the cable car, food and drinks. And a favour." He replied in Russian.

"Yes?" The man asked, and Gene whispered into his ear.

"Understood, Field Marshall."

Gene beckoned for Aimee, and they walked into the VIP cable-car and they sat down in the cube-like structure.

Gene pointed at the mountain covered with snow, and asked.

"How do you like this so far?"