Terra Firma - New York City

September 23, 2558, C.E.

There was a time when he never doubted himself. Sitting at his onyx desk Chancellor Zion regretted the deal he made with Venus. It was clear in retrospect that Venus got the better part of the deal. However, Chancellor Zion was a strong man, he never goes back on his word. The door opened on the far side of the room and a relaxed-looking man of Mexican heritage walked into the room. Chancellor Zion looked at him with a rare deepness in his artificially black eyes.

“There are times when a calm thoughtfulness is more powerful than forced action.” Master Vera’Cruz was Zion’s most trusted adviser. There was a warmth in his blue eyes. A warmth beyond that of an adviser.

Zion’s black eyes began to glare back into his, the cold darkness had returned. “Action is always superior to waiting.” The leader shifted uncomfortably and stood up buttoning his suit coat as he stood. He marched toward the window intent on his thoughts. He stared out the floor to ceiling windows. His adviser walked quietly to stand next to him. They stared out the window upon New York. The skyline had changed a lot, Impulse Tower was now the largest building in New York. Everything else was taken down to make Impulse Tower even that much more majestic. He had three hundred and sixty-degree view of his city. He was looking south-east down the Manhattan Island toward the former site of One World Trade Center. “This world used to be very different.”

“Yes, sir, you have had a strong impact.”

Zion turned to his adviser and glared at him. “You know that’s not what I meant. This country, this world used to be mine. In the palm of my hand, controlled by fear and hatred. Generations that came before me ran the same way. Yet, somehow now my control is waning. Somehow the structure of our world is falling apart.” He pointed south-east. “There used to stand a tower, a tower that stood for almost three hundred years in the and was taken down in the summer of 2313, more than two hundred years ago. That building stood for the unity of our nation and it stood in the footprint of towers destroyed by people who believed we were standing for things against their religion and that we should all die.” Zion turned back toward the city and became more passionate. “Previous people in my position decided that that symbol and many others were no longer required. This tower, the one we stand in should be the tallest in the city. That wonderful symbol and fifteen others all had to come down. Simply because it eroded the power of this seat to have anything taller than this building in the capital of our city, nation, world, and solar system.”

“Sir?” Master Vera’Cruz did not understand where his leader was going.

“They were idiots. I am no symbol. There is much more value in symbols beyond me. He turned back to his chair. “How am I supposed to lead an entire populous when the only thing they fear is me.” He sat down in the black leather chair and sighed deeply.

Master Vera’Cruz walked around the front of the desk. “What do you propose to do my liege?”

Zion nodded as if he had come to the decision. “Bring me the sixteen best architects on Terra Firma. I will correct their blunder, as well as the blunder that makes me hate myself.”