- 00 -

All across the planet, 1.3 billion TVs, 500 million phones, and 70 million computers were turned on. They all tuned to the 6:00 p.m. news channels, before the world held its breath... The major news channel, from Britannica Channel, to Al-Shizah Reports, to Evropa Union Media, were all fighting for exclusivities, which ultimately was granted at the exact same moment, minus the time difference. The announcement was about to be made, the world was about to change in exactly ten seconds...

U-S News appeared on the screen of the White Castle guest waiting room, and the entire crew and assistants present turned to the TV.

"Here we go, honey," a dark-skinned woman, with a great majority of silver streaking her dark brown afro, said as she finished tying her husband's tie. "Nervous?"

Her husband smiled.

"Never have been."

He looked fondly at her, caressing every bit of skin that showed from her formal dress.

"I keep telling you, Frances, you should be the one stepping in front of the podium. The world needs someone like you, with everything that's happened since the Civil Uprising."

Frances scoffed.

"And I keep telling you, Robert, that politics scares me more than chasing off a drug lord or a serial stalker." She smiled and gave him a quick peck. "The world doesn't need someone like me, or someone like you. All it needs is honesty and integrity. Offer that, stay true to your ideals, and they will never again look at your skin, race or gender. That's my final counsel to you before this all starts."

Robert Bohm smiled proudly and returned the peck. He then looked around.

"Speaking of counseling, where's Randall?"

"Up cloistered in his office, overlooking the plaza, as he always does," she replied harshly.

He laughed.

"Come on, Frances, when will you go easy on him? Without him, you and I wouldn't be standing here today."

She looked hard at her husband.

"I keep telling you, I don't trust one bit your soon-to-be Counsellor."

"And I keep telling you, he does his job really well. What don't you like about Randall?"

Frances hesitated.

"His eyes. You know when you get the shivers looking at a snake's cold, merciless eyes? That's what I get when I look at him. Promise me you'll stay true to your own own instinct and be careful around him, Robert?"

Robert laughed softly and hugged his wife.

"Are you eyes-discriminating? It's just how he looks, he can't help it."

Frances sighed, and let go of the argument for a few seconds, relishing her husband's warm embrace before the weeks to come, when she knew his position would take him away from her. She lingered just a few seconds more before breaking the hug and staring in his sky blue eyes.

"Stay true to our ideals, will you?"

Robert's gaze turned serious.

"I will never forget where I come from, what my family went through, what you helped change. I won't sit on my ass and allow families to go through what mine did. They all deserve the comfort you gave me thirty years ago."

Frances smiled softly.

"Then go get them."

"Get ready, sir," an assistant called out from the small group of people clustered in front of the TV monitor. "It's starting."

Robert started out toward the door, when another man stepped in.

"Good luck, Mr. Bohm, and don't forget: lean your right shoulder toward the front when you state your changes, and once in a while, refer your hands back to your plexus, that'll show trust and open-heartedness..."

Robert raised his hand and abruptly stopped the newcomer on the shoulder.

"Thanks, Dave, I know you mean well, but I don't know how many times I have to tell you, I don't need your parlour tricks."

The assistant opened his mouth, but Robert interrupted him again with his hand.

"I'll let the people decide if they trust me, I won't force them into it by using your body language tricks, which, sorry, but are a waste of college degrees. Why would I pretend to be honest and trustworthy, when my whole goal is to bring back an honest and strong Americae? Only cowards and liars uses your tricks, and old presidents who played a game too complex to remain true to themselves. I'm insulted you believe I need them."

"I'm very sorry if I made you feel that way, I only..." Dave stepped back,

"Don't sweat about it; Randall hired you, and it's your job. But let me do mine."

"Hold on just a second, sir," an assistant held back Robert just before he opened the door. "The press will give the signal."

The U-S News newscaster smiled to the viewers.

“Welcome to the 6:00 p.m. news broadcast. In headlines, on this 15 July, the results for the 11 June 2037 Americani presidential elections, which we have the privilege to announce live. The Congress finished compiling and verifying the votes, and the new president, chosen by the majority will of the Americani people, is Robert Bohm. The Anti-Authoritarian Party candidate won the elections by seventy-three percent majority over the Democratic, Republic, and Liberation Party...”

Alongside the group present in the room, they could hear in the plaza that all of Norr Americae cheered at the sound of this news.

“... This truly pave the way for the rest of the world,” continued the newscaster. “Worldwide polls decisively demonstrated how the people are fed up with the governments they’ve been previously led to elect; and this election finally proves it. We will now go live to the White Castle, where President Bohm is about to make his inaugural speech.”

The camera faded to show live footage of the White Castle’s frontal view.

"Go, sir, now!" the cameraman assistant urged Robert.

The plaza outside of the White Castle was surrounded by thousands of citizens, waving and cheering at the sight of the president coming out of the building.

Robert Bohm walked to the prepared stage in front of his porch, waved to the population, and finally, cleared his throat.

“My fellow compatriots, my friends, my brothers and sisters, I hate formalities, so let’s cut to the chase here. I stand before you not as your leader, nor your president, but your equal. Too long have I, by your side, watched our so-called safe Americani Security break every rights to our privacy, from every step of our lives. Too long has our so-called caring Health Department allowed toxins and poisons into our food and drinks; too long have we watched innocent children being abused and destroyed by so-called virtuous religions and dogmas from every sides; too long have we watched greedy corporations destroy Terra by excavating tons and tons of her soil, draining her water for needless purposes, stealing her vital resources. And finally, too long have I watched our previous government slowly tear apart our Constitution, enslaving our population bits by bits, slowly discarding and banning all of our most sacred rights. To that and with your voice, I say: ‘no more!’. The ones responsible for the sad state of our country need to ready themselves, as they will be found, judged, held responsible and bear the weight of their deceit.

» I am NOT our previous governments. My purpose isn’t to take money from you, not to forbid your most essential rights, not to deceive you, not to spy on you, not to destroy Terra, not to enslave or abuse you under so-called higher power authorities. My purpose is simple: I am here to help you get rid of your tormentors. I am but a mere servant of my people. I will help you restore what is ours, our equality, our freedom, our rights and finally our hopes and possibilities for a better tomorrow. Rest assured that under my leadership, no poison will reach your food, no spying will be done under any nebulous excuses, no corporations will demolish our precious planet for personal gain, and finally, no breach of our sacred Amendments will be tolerated. The Uni-states of Americae are as much under your command as they are under mine. A new order is about to rise; one free of unnecessary rules and restrictions, one built from the ashes of this corrupt and inefficient order.

» But, in order to bring about this new world, in order to bring the old one down, I must ask your help. Only you can bring that fall; for I am but your representative. I am not your ruler, and I am not allowed to act alone without your approval; only with your consent and on your behalf. It is your country, and you must be allowed to change it as you wish. I wholeheartedly hope that with your support, we will bring back order and make this country great again. This new world will be born not under my rule, but under your reign and by your will.

» My compatriots, my friends, my brothers and sisters... thank you. Thank you on behalf of the AAP. Thank you on behalf of Terra, whom we can finally help; and finally, thank you for your help in instituting a new order, one that will guide the rest of the world, and show them the way. Thank you.”

Robert Bohm took a step back from the stage and bowed to the cheering population assembled in front of his house. He smiled, humbled by the overwhelming reactions, and bowed again, thanking everyone.

He walked back into the room, where Frances and the rest of the group whistled and clapped. On the TV, the camera faded back to the news rooms, where the newscasters were wiping their tears and clearing their throats as well. They all chuckled shyly and smiled to the viewers.

“Well, I don’t know about you, but that was a moving speech. Very well done, Americae; I believe that this election will indeed show the way for the world. Speaking of which, worldwide polls indicates that most of the countries are starting to boycott old parties and to support newer ones, such as the Britannica Middle Party, the François People Party, the Cyrillic Peasant Party, and other civilian-oriented parties. Quite good news for the people indeed! Now, let’s move on to the rest of the news…”