If I had know what would happen...

Everything seemed to be going fine. I mean, things hadn't been good between us for a long time, but seeing the One World Nation Movement was spreading our bosses made an effort to smooth things over and create a support network. In that occasion America even behaved like a gentleman, showing me around the White House.

Then the first interruption came.

It was a human, but not any human. That is why the guards of the building allowed him to approach America. They even helped him. It was an old man who wore an olive green uniform with a matching hat.

"Mr. America..."

Not to force him to walk to us, America came to his encounter.

"Good afternoon."

A smile formed in the face of that elderly man.

"Well, what do you know..." he said, "when I joined the army back in 1941 I was sixteen. Now I'm old as the hills and you are as young as you were back then."

"Oh, don't say that, you look great."

The old man smiled showing fake teeth.

"I just wanted to tell you I don't buy that nonsense about starting over. Many of us fought for the world we have today. It ain't perfect but it's still better than any utopia. As long as I have air in my lungs, I will bless you. You have been my home, my parents', my grandparents' and for those before them. My children's and my grandchildren's. There is no better place in the world for me. God preserve you."

There is something special about the veterans. Mostly those who fought in that horrible war. There was so much to lose I guess a special bond was formed. And it is well known America adores his men. He never missed the funerals of those who died for natural causes back home. The words of that man, at that moment when many voices accused him of being an imperialist and committing abuses in foreign land, moved him deeply.

The veteran saluted him and America, proud, returned the gesture.

At that moment it seemed to me like a pretty anecdote, just like the newspapers and social media. I didn't know the visit of that man would be decisive in the measures America would take later.

"What's your name, sir?"

"Alfred McFarland, Mr. America."

"He! Mr. McFarland, I promise I'll do all I can for you, your children and your grandchildren."

"You have done so much for us already. It is time we do for you."

That was the end of that brief meeting. The White House staff took the veteran to the exit and America was left pensive for a while before remembering I was there.

"What were we talking about?"

"I was saying it is time we stop the pendejadas and, if we're not going to get along, at least we should stop bothering each other."

"Oh, come on, Mexico, it's just a little wall..."

That was all we could talk about before being interrupted again.

"M-Mister America..." a bodyguard approached.

The door of the corridor opened and we saw what had intimidated her that much. It felt as if a breeze had come through the door and frozen the White House. Which is on point, because it was Russia.

He was a head taller than the tallest member of the staff. He looked like a giant. He looked at everyone in his path with an apparently innocent but arrogant expression. If there is something Russia likes to do it is to intimidate. He walked with his hands inside of his dark blue coat. As always, he wore that scarf of his.

Russia stood out for his imposing looks, but China was there too and attracted many stares in spite of being much more discreet. Just like Russia, he wore a dark uniform so immaculate it was evident this was not an informal visit. In times like those when him and America had had run-ins due to political injerences, technological rivalries and comercial disputes, his unexpected presence in American territory was really unsettling.

I looked at America and saw him with his eyebrows raised. Surprised, no doubt about it, but not troubled.

"America. Mexico" China greeted us, gazing at us.

"Russia. China. Mexico. America. Good, we know our names" America said. "Now tell me why nobody told me you were coming."

"Let's say it's a surprise visit" Russia smiled.

"Your surprise visits normally end in a shooting...My boss is in a meeting with Mexico's."

"We came to see you."

"You'll have to wait. Mexico was kind enough to make an appointment weeks ago to talk to me."

"Mexico was leaving" I noted Russia was staring at me, piercing my brain with those violent eyes. His voice was soft but his intentions were clear. "Right, Mexico?"

I come from a hot place, and what does the heat do to ice? That chingón was not kicking me out.

"I will leave" I said, holding his stare "when I am finished."

Russia kept smiling, but not like before. Had the two of us been alone, I am sure he would have skinned me.

"It is my place to decide that" America said in my defense. "Can you at least tell me what this is about?"

"Worldwide security. That's what this is about" China answered.

Worldwide security. That must have stimulated America's imagination.

"...Is it about the One World Nation Movement?"

"Of course."

"And why can't Mexico stay?"

"Because we came to see you" China looked at me. "No offense, aru."

"Sure. I get it. You came to see the global power."

Again Russia looked at me with that smile that told me to go to hell and now China was gazing at me with insistence. I sighed.

"Alright. We will talk when you've finished whatever you have to...talk about with them."

"Bye, Mexico" Russia said to me with a good boy's voice, and I wanted to punch him in the nose.

America didn't do anything to stop me as I left. He instantly took his two uncomfortable guests to a nearby room and instructed his guards to leave him alone and give the presidents a runaround if they asked about him. I heard him. I wanted to approach and listen but those bullies wouldn't have let me come close. I could only wander the White House until my president finished debating with America's and we left together.

Today I still don't know the exact words spoken inside of that room but the result was soon public. Newspapers around the world published images of the three top global powers together. The old quarrels, the conflicts, the rumors, everything seemed to have been left behind. Their governments received direct orders to favor communication between their respective armies.

That was the birth of the Triumvirate, right in front of me.

I remember that day and think those two tempted America with the promise of doing what he loved the most: being the police of the world. The visit of that War World II veteran had softened his heart, convinced him that it was time to do what it was necessary to protect people and themselves from that threat. They surely used that excuse, defense, to attract them to their side.

But at that moment we simply thought they had assembled out of fear, in order to act in case it was necessary.

I still didn't know I would be the first victim of their abuses.