- AU -

Scott opened the office door, and smiled eagerly upon seeing Randall and Ysadora leaning against the massive wooden table, their eyes fixed on the holographic projection against the wall; Daniel was seated dutifully at a distance.

“Has it begun yet?” Scott asked.

“Just about to,” Ysadora answered.

Displayed on the projection was the live footage of the media coverage of the new Uni-states President. The cameras moved from the White Castle entrance to the crowd gathered at the front gate, scanning the eager faces of the population.

“Look at them,” Randall said disgustingly. “Lonely hungry faces that wants nothing more than a juicy news to fill their worthless day.”

The White Castle's front door, and the crowd erupted in cheers as Abraham Solomon stepped out.

Abraham walked to the stage, his blue eyes scanning the crowd. He smiled, enjoying the sudden rush of adrenaline pumping as he was made aware that the cameras were upon him. Today, he was no longer a mere teacher behind a desk; he was no longer an insignificant dot on the tapestry. Today, he was standing above everyone else; and today, his words would directly shape the very next hour in history.

He took a deep breath, then moved around the stage to face directly the gate, picking up the microphone and setting it instead on his suit’s lapel. Upon a gesture of his hand, the guards reluctantly opened the main gate and allowed the crowd to flood in until the next barricade, set up a mere hundred feet from the entrance.

“Good day, Americani. My name, as some of you already know, is Abraham Solomon. I was until four days ago the Chief Public Relation Advisor to Bohm. Some of you may be shocked to hear that I give no other title to that man; but I hold no respect for a man bent on lying and manipulating you since the very first day, and then pretending like he was different from the others.

» For that reason, Vice-President Carrie has de-facto decided to temporarily give the position of Presidency to myself, as you have surely seen the news yesterday. But I cannot claim that position. I am well aware that the majority of yourselves no longer trust the mainstream medias; how can any of us? When I wake, I walk out of my house, and I look around me: this is how I watch the news. No lie, no sensationalism, no external opinion. And for that reason, I am aware that the majority of yourselves rely instead on underground media; and I am aware that great doubts are cast upon myself.

» Some have likened me to the Antichrist… how laughable. Should such a mythological figure exist, it still wouldn’t be nearly as obvious as myself upon presenting itself. Others are claiming that I belong to a supposed grand noble family with delusional ambitions of world domination. You should sometime stop believing every single words you’re reading from dubious blogs, and actually read a history book. You’d realize that claims of villainous world-dominating noble families were created as a hoax in the late 19th century to justify invasions and wars. And if you still insist to believe that, you only need to look at the Great Kaiser Fall of 1945 to realize that a single power-hungry tyrant’s reign never last and will always be defeated by a ridiculously small and easily obtainable army.

» Then there were those that approved of my accomplishments, but who still linked it to equally absurd reasons and motives…”

Abraham paused to gauge the population, and he smiled, satisfied to see the population entranced by his words. Taking his breath, he resumed:

“I’m afraid the reason I’m standing at the top is very simple, and does not involve any fancy plan, cycles, or anything: I seized the position with my own will, my own mind, and my own two hands. I did not wait for someone else to tell me how to think or what to do. I did not rely on paranoia, occultism, myths and hoaxes to shape my decision. I did not spent hours staring at a screen, waiting for mere words to dictate my life. I did what every human worthy of that title should do with one’s own life: I took it to where I wanted it, with no help or hindrance from anyone, may it be bullies or friends. I wanted to rise above and become a teacher? I studied. Day and night, during breaks at work; storing every inch of my brain with information. To become advisor at the QOEC, I did nothing more than physically prove my worth. No boot-licking, no manipulation… no joining secret societies as so many of you think that that’s how powerful position are obtained. No. I became Advisor with cold hard traditional blood and sweat, with my own will and my two hands.

» And finally, how did I got into Presidency? Because I simply asked for it and proven my worth. Because when I say I work for the people, I don’t let others do my job. Because I don’t let ever-elusive puppeteers scare me from my duties. The only reason my duties never reached your knowledge, was because the people in power betrayed their words when they assured me that my suggestion would be implemented. That, Vice-President Carrie has himself observed and criticized. His request for my appointment as President is with hopes that without a middle man in charge, things will change for real.

» But why am I telling you this? Because the real power of a nation has never been its ruler: it has been the people. But right now, when I look at Norr Americae, at you, I don’t see a powerful nation ready to seize the power they already own. No; what I see is the majority of you sitting for hours in front of the screen of your computers or phones, and repeating what you read. None of you take action within your own will, your own hands. I see social justice warriors: just people typing mere words on a computer, then proclaiming themselves to fight for justice. But where are you actually, physically fighting for your freedom, your beliefs? For more than three months you could have yourselves demoted Bohm instead of relying on the system you yourselves hate above all. You want justice, you criticize the way it is administered, yet none of you rise to take that justice within your own hands.

» This is why your lives are never to your expectations. Conspiracy theories? Big Brother? Puppeteers? Don’t make me laugh. There is no, and there was never, such a thing. It’s an obsession you created because you never gathered the courage and the strong will to take your lives into your hands. It’s more safe, it’s less work to blame it all on an external larger system. You care about your right to make your own choices and live without interferences or obligations to a system, yet you never even try to exercise that right, and you blame an elusive all-powerful hidden hand for usurping that freedom. Let me tell you: there are no elusive all-powerful hidden hand against which you cannot fight for the freedom you deserve. Stop looking at your screen, and look instead at history: monarchs were overthrown by the people when inadequate; the entire Kaiser Empire of 1945 ended up being destroyed nevertheless; even the once allmighty power of the Supreme Pontiff no longer affect our lives.

» Do you want your lives to be exactly as you imagine it?"

A long silence followed. Abraham smirked.

"It was an actual question directed to you. Citizens of Uni-states: do you want your lives to be exactly as you imagine it?"

The crowd erupted once more in acknowledgement. Abraham rose his voice higher to cover the noise:

"Then from this second forth, the true power of this nation is in your own hands. Stop looking out at me or any of the Council to fix your lives for yourselves. Seize it! See an injustice? Fight it! Want to rise in the world? Take your two hands, use your brain, your voice, and your rights of free will, and seize what is yours! Today, and from now on... YOU are your own leaders of your destiny!"

Only the sounds of the mechanical dollies resonated as complete silence followed Abraham's words. Then, Abraham squinted and stepped back as a louder cheer than before resonated in the air. Whistling, clapping, yells, the sounds covered the city. Abraham smiled proudly, and lightly bowing, he returned inside the White Castle.

Moments later, a black Evropan car with tasteful touches of gold accents drove out from the underground parking lot, and Abraham waved from the driving window.

Newscasters turned to their respective cameras, holding close their microphone to maximize clarity over the noise.

"We are simply baffled by the recent events. This has never happened before in the history of Norr Americae; there is just no explanation to add to what you've all just seen. All we know is that President Solomon just left for the customary inauguration journey through the Presidential state... Stay tuned for further coverage."