The Fifth Element

29

“Mr. President!”

The door to the Neurological Lab burst open, and in came President Lindberg, followed by his retinue of aides, techs, scientists and military advisers—all in bright ceremonial dress.

Professor Mactilburgh stepped forward, bowing graciously to his guests.

“Mr. President,” an aide announced. “Allow me to introduce Professor Mactilburgh, who runs the center.”

“It’s an honor to receive you, Mr. President,” intoned Mactilburgh.

The President’s eyes were already darting around the lab. “Where are our two heroes?”

“They were so tired from their ordeal,” said Mactilburgh, “that we put them in the reactor this morning, so that…”

Lindberg cut him short with a wave of the Presidential hand. “I have nineteen meetings after

Mactilburgh knew when he was being told to get on with it. “Let me go see if they’ve revived.”

“We go live in one minute, Mr. President,” whispered another aide.

Mactilburgh pressed a button on the side of the reactor chamber, which made its blue shield translucent.

Inside, Korben and Leeloo were entwined in one another’s arms, kissing.

They were naked.

“I, uh, think they need a little more time, Mr. President,” said Mactilburgh.

The President nodded. Hearing a nearby commotion, he looked over to still another aide, who was holding a cell phone nervously.

“No, ma’am!” the aide said. “I tried. I know! No, ma’am!”

“Who is it?” the President asked.

The aide covered the phone. “Some woman who claims she’s Major Dallas’s mother.”

“Give it here.”

The President took the phone.

“Mrs. Dallas, this is the President. On behalf of the entire Federation, I would like to thank…”

The President frowned and held the phone away from his ear.

The entire lab turned toward him—and heard a shrill, tiny, tinny voice:

“Don’t pull that crap on me, Finger. I’d recognize that trash can voice of yours in a dark alley during a rainstorm. You tell that worthless no account son of mine that he should plotz for the way he’s ignored his mother. When I think of all I sacrificed for him!”

The President let the phone dangle from his fingers, like a dead fish.

“Mr. President…”

He turned and looked out the window. Something was happening to the east.

Behind him, Korben and Leeloo were bathed in the blue light of the chamber, still wrapped in their eternal (or so it seemed) kiss.

Outside, to the east, the skyline glowed with pale silvery light. The President smiled. It was one of his favorite sights.

Moonrise over Manhattan.

First the old moon, then the new one.