June 23rd, 2017

Hank wiped the sweat off his brow with his soaking wet handkerchief. He tilted his head back hoping the sun could help dry the thin layer that remained. His wife, Martha, squeezed his hand.

"You nervous?" she smiled, looking him in the eye. "I'm nervous too."

"Me, nervous?" Hank looked away. "It's just a hot flash."

Martha rolled her eyes. "I hope those hot flashes don't keep you from giving your speech." She pecked his cheek. "You're gonna do great. Breathe in… breathe out. Got it?"

Hank sheepishly nodded.

Martha placed both her hands on his arm. "Knock it, out of the ballpark."

Hank adjusted his tie. "Okay."

At the end of the tunnel, millions of people gathered around the Capitol. Their faces were like grains of sand, yet each were distinct in Hank's eyes. In the front, he could see his father smiling at him with worn, gray eyes. He couldn't believe he was standing where his father stood sixteen years ago. That was the year Sonic and friends stopped the ARK from colliding with Earth. To think his father had to deal with something so catastrophic three months into his presidency made him tremble. Here he was, a child flopping in his father's shoes.

He approached the podium with the Chief Justice waiting patiently by his side. He placed his hand on the bible and parted his lips.

"Repeat after me," said the Chief Justice.

"I do solemnly swear," they began, "that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United Federation, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Creed of Liberty of this United Federation. So help me God."

A reverent applause filled the Capitol.

The Chief Justice lowered the microphone to his mouth. "President Broadie will now address us." After patting Hank on the back, he moved aside.

Hank raised the microphone to his face. "My fellow Fredonians, it is a privilege to be standing before you today. I extend my gratitude to you, the Fredonian people, for choosing me to be your advocate. While I can't promise a perfect presidency, I will do everything in my power to uphold the Creed of Liberty against those that seek to destroy it. Thank you."

"Get down, Mr. President!"

A column of smoke erupted from the podium. A collective gasp, then Hank was lying on the ground, his ears ringing. He rolled his head to the left. The upper half of the podium was reduced to smoldering chunks of charcoal. He reached for the phone in his pocket, instead finding a slab of shattered glass. It felt like a stream of sweat was running down his cheek. He swiped it with his finger. It was red.

A Secret Service Agent slung Hank's arm over his shoulder. "You alright?" he asked.

Hank wobbled to his feet. "I hope so. Is Martha okay?"

"Martha is alright," answered the Agent. "We've escorted her off the premises."

"Thank God."

A lightning-fast orb of light pierced the audience, exploding in a burst of flame, sending people flying in all directions. Some ran to the east, some ran to the west, and some went northward. Many were caught in the middle and were trampled.

The Agent pulled his pistol, brandishing it at the sky. A cold pain crawled up Hank's stomach. Was it a sniper? Is that why he couldn't see his would-be assailant? If so, what kind of gun shoots exploding balls of light? No, this couldn't be the work of an ordinary man. It had to be him.

Somehow, over the commotion, the soft whirring of machinery grazed Hank's ears. Climbing down the pillars behind him, a pair of chameleon badniks faded into view.

The Agent turned around. "Newtrons!"

A round shadow loomed over their heads. "Don't shoot," said a familiar voice.

Hank's heart sank. It was the Eggman, standing on a floating platform, holding his daughter Winnie at gunpoint.

Tears raced from her puffy eyes. "Do what he says, dad."

Eggman pointed at the Agent. "Hey, you. Put the gun down."

The Agent slowly knelt to the ground, gently setting his pistol down and raising his hands. Hank did the same.

His eyes became steel on a cold winter night. "What do you want from me?"

Eggman stroked his red mustache. "I don't want much, Mr. Broadie, just the Oval Office."

"You know I can't do that!" Hank snarled.

"Why not?"

"Because this is a Democracy," Hank retorted without missing a beat. "In this country, we pick our leaders. I won the election fair and square, there's nothing you can do to change that."

Eggman twisted his gun slightly. "Let me make this easier for you. 'I, Hank Broadie, resign and declare Eggman as the new President of the United Federation.' I want you to say that right now."

Hank shook his head. "That's not how any of this works."

"Oh?"

"I will not make a mockery of this great nation."

Eggman turned to his hostage. "Did you hear that, Winnie? Looks like I'll have to put you down."

A bang ejected from Eggman's gun, making Hank flinch. His face went pale. But to his surprise, Winnie was still standing, her face scrunched in dreadful anticipation.

"That's funny," said Eggman, staring down the barrel of his gun. "It must have malfunctioned." He pressed it against Winnie once more. "Want me to try again?"

Hank put his head down, wetting the ground beneath him. "No, no more. I just want my daughter safe."

Eggman leaned in. "Then show me."

Hank looked him straight in the eye. "I, Hank Broadie, resign and declare Eggman the new President of the United Federation."

Eggman smiled. "Really? You mean that?"

"Yes, I do."

A wide, toothy grin spread across Eggman's face like a sunrise. At first, he snickered, like one would after a good joke. His snickering became a loud chortle, as being tickled by invisible hands. Winnie joined him

Hank grimaced. "Winnie?!"

The villian and his hostage exploded in raucous laughter, Eggman sounding more and more like a circus clown with every agonizing minute. Winnie jittered and sputtered like a television with bad reception. She dissolved into a cloud of crimson cubes. A masked jackal with a glowing gem on his chest took her place.

"Well done, Infinite," said Eggman, holstering his gun. "That was a spectacular performance."

Hank's mouth hung agape.

"Shall we finish what we started?" asked Infinite.

"Of course." Eggman snapped his fingers. A pair of Shutterbug badniks descended upon them with flashing red lights on their cameras. "Citizens of Central City," he started. "your president has an announcement. Care to tell them, Mr. Broadie?"

The Shutterbugs hovered close to his face. Hank sighed, "I, Hank Broadie, resign and declare Eggman the new President of the United Federation. Effective immediately."

The cameras panned to Eggman. "As your new President, I hereby decree that the checks and balances listed in the Creed of Liberty are null and void. From now on, I will control the executive, the legislative, and the judicial." He cackled, "Don't think that I haven't come prepared, because I have. Anyone who opposes me will pay the price."

After his closing remarks, the Shutterbug badniks flew away. Eggman frowned. "And just where do you think you're going?"

Hank and the Secret Service Agent froze in place, looking at him sheepishly. Although they tried crawling as fast as they could, they barely made it through the tunnel.

"Infinite, dispose of them please." Eggman flew away.

Infinite tugged on his glove. "With pleasure."