Rose Bowl

"Rose Bowl" is the first chapter of the Lightning Throne book. Napoleon Green and Scott Green watch on the televison the execution of the former right hand man to Los Angeles during Beatrice Green and Buck Green's birthday. Napoleon drives home through the streets of the Westside Cities, driving home from Scott's mansion in Beverly Hills to Napoleon's three room apartment in the suburbs.

Synopsis
It's Beatrice and Buck Green's 18th birthday party, and Scott and Napoleon are both on the couch watching a news report about how the former right hand man to the empire, Warren Daniel is being executed for treason against the empire. Napoleon asks if execution is neccesary for such a crime, and if imprisonment would be better. Scott tells Napoleon to think about the fact that Napoleon is an advisor to Scott, the leader of the Westside Cities district of Los Angeles, and how many secrets he would be able to tell fellow prisoners and guards in prison. Scott then mentions that if anybody should die it should be a man named Ezra Navarez, no context is given on him.

Right before the execution happens, Scott's wife Harper turns the TV off to prevent her kids from seeing the death despite Buck reminding her slightly that he has seen people die before. Scott tells Buck he's only seen people die in 1080 Pixels, and that he may be a registered soldier to the Westside Cities but he's never fought in battle. They soon light the candles on Buck and Beatrice's cake and continue to celebrate his birthday, after the cake is cut there aren't any slices left for Napoleon but he doesn't complain or say anything, and finds himself doing the dishes while listening to his brother tell war stories.