Chapter 5: The Vice

"Morgan Coulson, I welcome you to office." Alfred smiled down at the girl as she grinned back up at him, cameras flashing as they shook hands. The young woman turned to look at the crowd, then surprised them when she unexpectedly walked up to the podium.

"I know I wasn't supposed to give a speech today, but there is something I need to tell my fellow countrymen, and fellow candidates, before I take my first step into the White House with President America." She took a breath, and steeled her nerves. "I didn't ask for this. I never could have asked for this. But I don't regret not asking to be removed from the running, and I am very proud to be the one that the majority of my people chose. Like President America, I know there people here who don't really like me for whatever reason, but I won't let it stop me from doing the job I have been given."

Alfred couldn't help but chuckle when she dipped her head, turning on her heel to return to his side before walking with him into the White House. She pulled her long brown hair down from the bun she had put it in for the inauguration, and ran her fingers through it as she was led to her office.

"So, what exactly is my job?"

"You'll be handling some of my work that doesn't somehow affect my health and well-being." He smirked. "But that's just a side-project. Your main objective is the stability and well-being of the people. Helping me make sure they stay happy, and not blowing up my kitchen."

"Sir?"

"Part of the reason I decided so suddenly to bring a human into the office is the fraction of unhappy Americans who have decided to tell me very personally that they know I know they are there. A little over two weeks ago my kitchen was destroyed by an arsonist, and we still don't know who did it. As a human, you can help me sort through all the clouds that blind me to smaller fractions of people who may not have the numbers to affect my thoughts."

"Wait, what?"

"Remember learning about the Red Scare in the Cold War?"

"Yes."

"Still feeling the effects of it." He opened the door to her office, and let her step in before him. "As the country, things that affect the mentality of large portions of my people will begin to affect me as well. That can blind me to the smaller groups. You have no such ties to the country, so can better sort through all the things that I can't look at without accidental bias."

"Which means that you can keep your promise and try to keep everyone happy."

"Exactly." Alfred watched the woman step behind her desk, looking over the small pile of papers waiting for her. When she shuffled through them, then looked up at him, he chuckled. "Consider those practice papers. I don't quite trust you enough to handle the real stuff yet."

"Ah." Morgan snorted, picking up a pen. "I have to prove myself first, eh?"

"Yep."

{So it's true!} the woman jumped when one of the digital screens materialized in front of her. Canada sat smiling behind his desk, and looked between his brother and the new vice. {I didn't think you actually meant it.}

"Of course I did! Matt, this is my new Vice President Morgan Coulson. Morgan, this is my older brother Canada."

"Older? But you look like twins?"

"Yeah, we're not quite sure how much older he really is."

{We just know instinctively that it's me. Even if he denies it."

"You gotta admit, I did act like the older one for most of our lives."

{No, you acted like the louder one.}

"So it's true." Morgan looked at Alfred. "All of the countries, they all have a human to represent them."

"Yeah, even a lot of the micronations do."

"Why though?"

{For reasons like World War III. It's important for the country to have it's own voice so the citizens who live there actually have some say. Now, with us countries in charge of ourselves, it's like the people have total control, just without a lot of the nasty side effects that pop up when humans are truly self-governing.}

"Nasty side effects?" the girl looked confused.

"Placing the blame on who you think did it, not getting punished for doing wrong, stuff like that." Alfred smiled. "We don't want the entire world to turn into Salem, do we?"

{Salem?}

"He means the Salem Witch Trials."

{Ha, oh yeah, forgot you had such big problems with that back then bro.}

"Don't you have some mac 'n cheese to eat?"

{Don't you have some "heroic acts" to do?}

"Boys calm down." Morgan sighed.

"He started it…"