31

Another match of arguing and shouting ensued. But this time, everyone was trying to present their country as the best partner and ally, independent or not. Although some still found a way to chastise me for being too young. That I should have all of this alien tech to myself and insinuated my lack of education and experience as a detriment to my cause.

I didn’t say that they were wrong. As a matter of fact, I agreed with half of them. Not with being called a cunt or a selfish prick. I realized I must have presented myself a little too smug for the camera and a bit hostile at the end. Maybe I should smile more. Perhaps that would counter my “resting douchebag” face. But then they might wonder why I’m smiling suddenly, which would probably worsen things.

Jason kept giving me a thumbs up as I tried to compose myself, letting these so-called world leaders air their grievances for several minutes. I remained quiet as a mouse and still as a statue. From now on, I realized this would be my life, listening to people complaining all day.

I’m not built for that.

I watched as President Borodin traded barbs against President Howell about the merits of democracy, calling the other an oligarchic piranha while the other a paper tiger fascist. President Zhao wanted the tech to go to something other than Japan, India, or the European Union. If I partnered with them, it would be his nightmare to watch the Japanese naval defenses shore up and NATO’s grip overseas tightening. Prime Minister Chabert argued that since Canada and New Zealand were part of the Commonwealth, they should share the technology. Canada and New Zealand did not like that, and Prime Ministers Justin Walker and Francois Jardine made it well-known across the feed.

They were a fucking zoo.

Why did I even have to talk to these people? All I received were insult after insult. They made up their minds before I pushed the call button. Once they corroborated what they already knew—that a human can control the alien tech—they wanted it for themselves even after I told them I was the only one who could. President Howell still expected me to hand it over like a good soldier. As if asking it repeatedly would suddenly change my mind to get him to stop. Russia and China expected that to happen and were prepared for a fight, but they were disappointed when I said no. The rest scrambled for the scraps. They treated me like their new nuclear button.

I wanted to wave my hand and shut them all up.

“What do you intend to do with this tech, Mr. Segerstrom?” Prime Minister Chabert asked—the only question that stood out amongst the sea of shouting and whining.

I looked up at the screen. “I am going to build a fleet. I’ve already drummed up recruitment—”

“Yes, I meant to talk to you about that,” Zhao interrupted. “China does not appreciate you kidnapping its citizens.”

“Neither does Russia,” Borodin added.

“I don’t think it’s kidnapping,” I said firmly, shaking my head. “They voluntarily registered. They went to the pickup site of their own volition. It was not against their will, and if they don’t like it up here, they can go back.” And so far, that hasn’t happened yet.

Chabert cleared her throat. “And once you’ve recruited your forces, what then?”

“After the battle of San Francisco, the quartz sent out a distress beacon to a nearby star system about six light-years away called Barnard’s Star. It will reach that system in one year. We believe that they are calling for reinforcements, and until those reinforcements arrive, I am building a fleet to counter that. You’ve seen the satellite feeds of this station’s activities in the past two weeks. Those are the ships that I’m building.”

“A fleet?” Borodin repeated.

“That’s the reason why I’ve gathered you all here. I’m going to need soldiers. Pilots to command the star-fighters and a crew to steer the ships. Support staff to help with the war that is coming. And believe me, ladies and gentlemen, it is coming. One year from now at the latest.”

President Howell laughed, a hackling rise above the quiet feed. It took him a few seconds, but I bit my inner cheek waiting for him to calm down. “How do you expect to get these soldiers, Mr. Segerstrom?”

“Volunteers.”

“From us?”

“Yes.”

“Just a few minutes ago, you didn’t want us anywhere close to your alien tech, and you wanted to be an independent organization. Bad enough that you are stealing our citizens, and now you want our soldiers to shore up your army?”

“Correction: not under anyone’s control but mine. Your soldiers get to use forerunner tech, but they will follow my command. This requires the full cooperation of all participating nations—”

“Are you mad?” Zhao asked. “No Chinese will be under your command, especially to a foreign outsider.”

“We need to work together if we mean to defeat the quartz—”

Zhao cut me off. “—And who is funding this? Us?”

“I’m fucking richer than you, old man. I’ll pay the bill.” I lost my little patience there, and the Chinese president glared at me. I heaved a sigh. “If we could make a deal that could benefit everyone, perhaps a joint military alliance—”

“Well, you are right about that, Mr. Segerstrom,” Howell said. “Perhaps you should consider my offer earlier—hand over this tech, this station, that robot, and everything else. Create an organization under our leadership, and we will handle the rest, including recruiting your army with the full backing of NATO and the UN. You’re not dumb. Even that is a better option than what you proposed.”

“Not everything is free,” Borodin muttered.

“Is your answer a no then, Mr. President?” I asked, keeping myself composed.

“Yeah, kid. That’s a big fucking no,” Howell replied. I’d never heard a president swear before, but I’d clearly hit a big nerve. I was an outsider in this tight-knit circle I found myself in, taking away their toys. From the outside looking in, asking them directly wouldn’t work, and I’ve never expected it to.

This was more for the other’s benefit in the studio. Uncle Nathan expected it. My father looked disappointed. Amelia seemed worried. However, I couldn’t read Ben’s expression. Connor and Jason continued filming.

I still needed their soldiers if I wanted this to work. I needed manpower. I have to do it the hard way. In two weeks, fourteen thousand people answered my call. I’ll need at least a hundred thousand, maybe twice as many. How long would that take? Would it be enough to build a stalwart force before the quartz armada entered the solar system?

“Let’s not be too hasty,” Chabert said. “These are options worthy of our consideration.”

“What consideration, Natalie?” Howell asked. “No, there’s nothing to talk about. This kid is insane! Whatever that robot put in him must have scrambled his brain! It won’t surprise me if he is a puppet by these Architect aliens.”

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

Chabert cleared her throat. “Mr. President, as much as I agree with your hesitation with letting this young man hold the reigns to possibly the greatest discovery in human history, I will elaborate that handing out this tech to you, or China, or Russia, or even to my country will complicate things for all of us.”

“What a polite way to say you don’t trust us, Prime Minister,” Zhao said.

“We all have an agenda here, President Zhao. I am no exception. Mr. Segerstrom is a complete third party—a clean slate. He offered to establish a newly appointed body like the UN in ’45. One where we could pool our military resources and work together, free from any outside influence by other nations.”

“But he’s an American!” Borodin exclaimed, pointing accusingly at me.

“—Who refused to hand out the tech to the Americans, Alexei, for the same reason I just gave you,” Chabert added. She leaned toward the camera as if trying to get a good look at me. “This invasion fleet you speak of—the one that will come in a year—are you sure about that?”

“I’ll bet my life on it, Prime Minister Chabert,” I answered. There was a slight hesitation—all of them did—probably realizing they shouldn’t be fighting each other. Squabbling was one of humanity’s greatest past times, and no matter what crisis slowly advanced to our shores, we still had time to cut each other’s sails before the big finish.

“Are you sure you’re the only one who can control this alien tech? Just you?” Chabert asked.

“Affirmative,” Prime answered.

“Yep. Just me,” I answered, too. “Prime follows my commands, my directives, and my choices. It won’t work for anyone else.”

Unless I’m dead.

Chabert clasped her hands together as if she had made her point for everyone on the call, their arguments now rendered mute, but I still waited for the next person to grill me with more frivolous questions. Howell was too pissed to simmer down, and Zhao and Borodin wanted to say something, but they knew whatever came out of their mouths, the others wouldn’t agree. They wanted the tech (and if they could kidnap me, they would), but no one trusted them, and they certainly didn’t trust each other.

I glanced over to Amelia. One point down, I thought.

I wanted to get to my second objective of why I had gathered them here now that they understood they could not control the alien tech and me. And they weren’t going to like it.

“I want to add to what you’ve said about creating a new UN, Prime Minister Chabert. I am establishing an independent government, not just an organization. Where I will lead, where I will answer to no one.”

Chabert shifted in her seat uncomfortably. “Continue.”

“I’m building a new nation out here in space.”

They hadn’t expected that. I could see it through their shocked and bewildered faces. They could swallow their pride in letting me have a new, privatized mercenary group, but a whole country? Only Chabert remained expressionless, having already come to the same conclusion.

“And what kind of government, Mr. Segerstrom?” Chabert asked, humoring me.

“I have thought about this a lot since I arrived at this station. Seen what I’ve seen. Learned what I know now.”

What I said was true. For weeks, I pondered on what I was building here, realizing I literally had the planet’s future in my hands. If I squeezed hard enough, I’d destroy it or warp everyone’s lives and bind them to me. I was designated as a sovereign, and everything was my domain. It came with a herculean responsibility, one that I should own. One I shouldn’t run away from.

One that I should step into and embrace.

As a forerunner, elections would be a joke, and political parties couldn’t co-exist. Becoming a leader in this technology required blood. True democracy had no place here, but I could give a semblance of it through the ministers and perhaps create a senate. Whoever I tried to emulate, whatever form of government I took, flaws upon flaws would form cracks in an already shallow foundation. I couldn’t stand on that, or I would break.

I could hold an election and declare myself the winner every few years until I grew old and died. Become a dictator. I could form a single party where the representatives were of my choosing. I could develop a free market and militarized space where loyalty could be bought through service, sweat, and deeds. Those were tempting options. But I needed one that would secure my seat of power indefinitely (whom no one could argue against) so that Prime wouldn’t look for the next forerunner by killing more people. If he didn’t find the successor, Prime would abandon the planet, leaving us at the mercy of the quartz or another powerful civilization in the Orion sector.

I had to assume—and believe—I was the only one capable of controlling the forerunner technology, far from the hands of this zoo I found myself in.

I needed a giant red card that would shut them up.

“Mr. Segerstrom?” Chabert called out, breaking my line of thoughts.

I lifted my chin and straightened my back. I glanced over to the screen, making sure I looked imposing and assertive as a leader should. Didn’t they say positive body posture helps deliver your argument better? I hope that’s true.

“Let me elaborate that I did not ask for this. You probably think your position, duties, and responsibilities remain the same. That may be true seventeen days ago before the aliens arrived. That’s no longer the case.” I took another pause. “As President Zhao said, politics is a game. Before the Architects found me, you hold all the cards in the world. Growing up, I’ve learned and watched you all bicker, backstab, make friends, and wage wars to own them. Well, this is my card.

“I am not exaggerating when I say that I am more powerful than all of you combined, even without an army.

“I can rain fire on your cities with one command.

“I can drop those glowing spheres to get rid of your armies.

“I can haul an asteroid and hurl them over your borders, generating artificial disasters that will no doubt cause famine and disease.

“I can hack through your electrical grid and plunge you into darkness, maybe even grab those nuclear codes you all like so much.

“I can do all of that on a single day while I’m sitting on a chair. And once the dust clears, hopefully, I am still willing to talk to you.”

All of a sudden, they all froze. They recognize a loaded threat when they hear one. Even Uncle Nathan and my father went rigid.

I held my icy glare. “And while you insulted my friends, family, and me, fortunately for you, I’m not here to conquer or subjugate Earth. I want Earth to work with me because the real enemy—” I pointed to the window behind me, toward the darkness of space. “—is out there, and it means to destroy us all.”

“And you want to steal our soldiers for your toys?” Borodin seethed.

“Not stealing when it’s an alliance. I provide the equipment and weaponry; you provide the manpower. It’s as simple as that. Although, I do ask your men for a little respect and adherence to my authority. You may heed it and consider my judgment before saying yes or no. And if you think you can reverse engineer forerunner tech, think again. Prime and I have our contingencies.”

The other leaders begin to stir, bracing for another argument.

But Howell put it up for a vote. “Does anyone here want to form an official partnership with Mr. Segerstrom? And before you answer, you will be laying down the lives of your citizens for his war.”

“Not just my war, President Howell. Ours.”

“We will see.”

He placed the vote on the others in the call. I received zero. Mostly everyone was in Howell’s corner, but it struck me curious that only Prime Minister Chabert, Prime Minister Walker of New Zealand, and Prime Minster Shojiro Iseya of Japan abstained from the vote. I’m not surprised by how things turned out. I half-expected it. Telling a bunch of world leaders you wanted their soldiers would never work without a caveat.

“When you change your mind, kid, we’ll discuss a more productive solution for all of us,” Howell said, but he wasn’t counting on it.

“But I haven’t told you yet what government I’m creating,” I said before they dropped the call.

“You plan to become a country of one,” Chabert said matter-of-factly.

“A foolish endeavor,” Zhao muttered.

“Not quite, Prime Minister Chabert,” I said. “I am establishing a monarchy. Today, I am announcing a new empire—The Tellurian Empire—with me as emperor. It’s funny hearing a claim to a title like this, given today’s climate. The last true emperor the world had ever seen was more than a century ago. But I hope I don’t have to go to horrific lengths to make my claim earned like other emperors in the past.”

“This is no call for an alliance,” Howell whispered, realization crossing his face.

“No, this was a courtesy call, President Howell,” I said, taking a step forward. “As the wealthiest and most influential nations on Earth, you all have the right to know who’s moving in next door. But I hope we can be friends and form a diplomatic alliance between us if we mean to fight the real enemy.”

“You’re not requesting our aid. You’re demanding it,” Chabert said.

“I have been from the start, prime minister,” I said.

“Have you ever considered that this makes things more difficult, Mr. Segerstrom?” Zhao said. “What you offer, we cannot seriously take into consideration! It reeks of imperialism! And given my country’s history, we will not acknowledge your government. And you call yourself a savior of humanity?”

“How can we trust you if you call yourself emperor? Emperor of what people?” Borodin asked.

I stared directly at the camera. “You. All of you.” It was the answer they did not want to hear, but I had to say it. Play the card right and have the last laugh.

“Whether you like it or not, ladies and gentlemen,” I continued, “within the next five years, you will be technologically and culturally behind by centuries and primitive by the end of the decade. That is not an exaggeration. The only way you could survive as an independent nation is if you fight over my toys that I have thrown away as junk. This is the new frontier of humanity…with me leading the charge.”

They went quiet. I let the moment sink in, watching them squirm under my glare and the card I had placed on the table.

Then, I directed my attention at President Howell and repeated his words earlier. “But you can rest easy now, Mr. President. I’ll take it from here.”