I do not own Chaotic nor anything related to it. It belongs to TCDigital.

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The Bitter Reunion

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Time 14:

Frank and I are sitting behind the stage. It's a crude stage, put together in only an hour, but the Humans don't have much time, so a lot of corners are being cut, including making the debate stage actually look good.

I'm doing my best not to look at Frank. I'm a little nervous, to be honest. This guy made life miserable for me back on Earth, and now I'm alone with him behind a stage. Even the bright midday sun isn't helping my nerves. It just helps me see the bane of my childhood better. He hasn't changed much, except like the rest of the Humans here he's in a lot better shape than I last remember.

Gah, now I'm a lot more nervous. Any moment now, he's going to say or do something to torment me. Just stay calm, Michael. You're not the same gullible little kid you used to be. Just act like you're in control, and everything will be all right. You know his tricks now, he can't manipulate you that easily anymore.

"So," Frank smirks, "the night before we all ended up here... did the thunderstorm wake you up?"

I shake my head. "And it's still not funny-"

"I guess I kicked the wrong trashcan," Frank laughed.

I roll my eyes. "Very mature. Such high quality jokes will absolutely guarantee your victory." Please stop talking...

Frank leans back in his chair and puts his hands behind his head. "Sarcasm aside, Michael, you're right. I've always been the better public speaker. You always stumble over your words whenever you need to speak on stage."

"I'm not a teenager anymore," I retort. "It's a wonder what speech therapy can do for a guy."

"Speech therapy?" Frank laughs. "That's pathetic."

Don't react, Michael, he wants you to lose your cool.

Frank leans forward. "Even so, I'm going to win. You know why?"

It's bait. Ah well, I'll bite. "Why?"

Frank grins, "Because you're going to let me win."

I snort. "I don't think so."

Frank's grin disappears. "I'll make you hurt. You can't even dream of the things I can do to you."

...Really, Frank? "You can do worse than stick a sword through my gut, severing my spine?"

Frank blinks, but otherwise his expression remains the same.

I continue, "Oh wait, is it worse than being burned to death by napalm? Being smothered by a pillow? Shot by firing squad?"

Frank's mouth is open like he's trying to talk. I don't let him.

"Oh, I can think of more. Decapitation, or maybe beaten to death over the course of several minutes? Death by magic? Falling off the top of a fifteen story building?"

Frank straightens up. His eyebrows have disappeared underneath his bangs.

"I can do better than that. What about falling four miles while your body's mutating? Tripping down the stairs and hitting your head on every sharp corner on the way down? Eh, that one was a little weak, how about getting your head punched so hard that your brain splatters everywhere? Stepped on by something a hundred times heavier than an elephant? Dying of thirst while all your limbs are broken?"

Frank looks lost for words. Then he laughs, although it's a little nervous. "Wow, you are seriously messed up."

"Not as much as you," I mutter under my breath.

...Hm, I'm not nervous anymore. Frank's not an oppressive force, he's a speed bump. Whatever he can do, I've already faced worse.

Someone comes around back to bring us on the stage.

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"This question is for Michael. Last night you claimed there was no way to return to Earth. Care to elaborate?"

Take a deep breath, Michael. Think about what you'll say before you say it. "I would like to elaborate. Any particular questions?"

"If a way to return to Earth was found, what would you do?"

I force myself not to smirk at Frank. "Then, if there were Humans who wanted to return, I'd help organize a research project on said way to return, then hand the project to people with the skills required to carry out the required research." I place my hands on the pulpit. "I want to make something clear, though. I'm not going to promise a way to Earth if I don't know that one exists."

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"Frank, did you know about Perim before arriving here, like Michael?"

The corners of Frank's mouth curl upward. "No, and I'm glad. I learned to survive here without thinking that this was all a game. Would you guys want a ruler who treated the world like a card game? I sure wouldn't." Frank turns his head to glance at me and grins.

There's mumbling in the crowd. Many people seem to agree.

I clear my throat. "Before Frank continues, may I clear something up?"

The interviewer hesitates. "You may say one sentence."

I look out the crowd. "Do I act like this world is a card game?"

The crowd stops mumbling. Frank looks furious.

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"Michael, by declaring your candidacy last night, you effectively declared that you thought you would make a better leader than Frank. Anything in particular you want-"

Frank clears his throat. "I'd like to answer this question as well, sir."

The interviewer looks at me. I nod. "...I guess if Michael agrees..."

Frank looks over to me. "Did you know Michael has brain damage? Hey, it's a valid answer."

There's a lot of shocked gasps in the crowd.

Frank's look of triumph disappears when I chuckle. "I went to a high school specifically for teenagers with that problem."

The interviewer turns to Frank. "And you claim to have gone to the same high school as Michael, correct?"

I want a photograph of the look on Frank's face. It's the perfect look for someone who just discovered how much something backfired on them. There's a flash from the crowd. Awesome, I'm buying a copy of whichever newspaper runs that picture.

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"I won't let anyone push me around," Frank says. "When Humans need something, I'll make sure they get it."

"I'm sure that King Theb-sarr's doing a good job of looking out for humans right now," I respond. "But in the event that our needs aren't being met, I will push for action."

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There's no clear winner today. For all of Frank's backfired attempts to ruin my image, he is still a better speaker than I am. He can choose his words faster and respond quicker, while I seem to be a little slow with my answers.

Still, there's hope. I'm gathering a lot of support. How much of it is because I'm better known than Frank and how much of it is genuine confidence in my abilities, I'm not sure. But we only have a couple days, and the people still undecided are going to have to choose.

I have to win. I can't let a sociopath become even a figurehead. That is something I can't even dream of.

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Up next: The Knife

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Like I said before, Chaotic belongs to TCDigital.

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