XC
And All The King's Men…
"Where do you want us to start, Mr. President?..."
Now standing, Bruce Wayne looked at the fifty-three generals who surrounded him, trying to think of an answer to that question. Over the past year, he had constructed countless scenario algorithms dealing with Raven's father through probability software with thousands of variables to attempt to account for the supernatural. However, none of his scenarios ever began with him becoming the President of the U.S.A…
"Alright ladies and gentlemen, please return to your seats. Let's begin with the rules of engagement with what we've been able to gather so far…
Rule number one, and this is important… All actions against this threat must be approved by Bruce Wayne. I am the commander-in-chief and project manager.
Rule number two… Do not take a shot at the big, red guy. You'll only piss him off and lots of people will die. See rule number one if in doubt.
Rule number three, those ugly demon-things are to be contained in Kahndaq with extreme prejudice. You can take shots at them, but not at the big, red guy. See rule number two.
Rule number four, also very important… we need all the help we can get. There are no foreign relations anymore. There's only one enemy and he doesn't care if you're American, Chinese, African, Muslim, Christian, Atheist or even Popular… He's here to kill everyone regardless.
And finally rule number five… never give up hope. I call this Raven's rule."
Bruce felt the temperature drop in the room. Were they beginning to grasp the enormity of what they were up against? It was completely different than any enemy they had ever known. The cold hand of fear began to take hold of them as everyone began to stare at one particular screen behind him.
That one wi-screen - which had previously shown scores of demon hordes - now suddenly captured the red scion of terror himself… well over two hundred feet tall as he slowly descended to the applause of thunder against a crimson sky unto the darkened sands of Kahndaq.
Trigon had arrived on Earth.
A sudden, collective gasp filled the room as they all felt something as the demon's feet touched the ground of their planet. Like a dismal wave across the world, every single human felt the same sense of overwhelming dread that had lain dormant in their genetic code from the time of prehistory… only now awakened by the coming of Trigon.
"…Excuse me sir, but what the Hell is that thing?!"
"…The Devil... But he calls himself Trigon now."
"Sir, should we launch nuclear weapons?!"
"Violates rule number two. Trigon would perceive that as a threat and react. We do not want him to react. Our job is to minimize the damage and wait until the cavalry arrives."
"…I'm sorry, sir… The Cavalry?!" All eyes now turned to Bruce Wayne, awaiting an explanation, a glimmer of hope against the incarnation of evil half a world away.
"As President Lane said, the Universe is much larger than humanity dares to admit. It was our stubborn denial of life outside of our own atmosphere and a failure to communicate with our fellow citizens of Earth that has found us so unprepared for what is now this planet's greatest battle…
A life-or-death battle for our continued existence into tomorrow against the Devil.
Were we to attack this enemy, let's call him Big Red, with convention weapons, he would simply destroy us. Period… My wife is traveling to enlist the aid of the New Gods, beings much like our own Big Blue... Meta-humans if you will. With luck, they are the cavalry we so desperately need to help us defeat that thing. There are also other forces across the galaxy that may now come to our aid. Our job is to stay alive and buy them time.
As I stated in rule number four, we need all the help we can get, even if it comes from the other side of the Universe." Bruce smiled a little watching their reactions. They were actually taking this better than he thought they would. With the coming of Trigon, a lifetime of bureaucratic thought was replaced by a need for survival. He was nothing if not a game changer.
"Excuse me sir, would the Ultimate Weapon that was used on Kahndaq this morning be effective against these creatures?"
"Unlikely... We must assume they have a physiology much different than our own. And the weapon-grade nanites in Kahndaq would need to replenish. It would be days before another shot could be made in that country."
"But it's still an option in other areas, if the situation dictates?"
"…Yes."
For Bruce, it was a fast indoctrination into the politics of war. It was simply about permission. Transgressions were the lifeblood of war, it was whether someone was permitted to proceed… or not.
"Shall we alert our ships in the Mediterranean and Persian Gulf?"
"Certainly. And everyone else's for that matter. But keep all fighters around the perimeter of Kahndaq. Getting too close to or trying to shell Big Red will only result in instant annihilation."
Many of the room's occupants actually jumped when the door was abruptly opened by a young female aid with an urgent message….
"I'm so sorry sir… It's the Chinese Ambassador on a screen. He says his government is prepared to launch a nuclear attack against us unless he talks to the president immediately."
"…Put him on." Bruce drew a deep breath and put a hand to the back of his head as a very angry, elder Chinese statesman appeared on a screen in front of him.
"Where is Luthor?!..."
"I'm afraid President Luthor is dead. Until the global emergency is resolved, I'm now the acting president, Bruce Wayne…"
"You Americans are like ancient Rome… Killing each another to become emperor for a day! Witness what you have done! Your sins upon the world have brought the Great Yama down to Earth, to punish mankind! We have been monitoring the situation closely!"
"…Yama, the Buddhist God of Death?" His wife's studies of the Earth's religions had obviously rubbed off on him.
"Yes, Wayne… Yama. How will you make reparations to the People's Republic for enraging our God?!"
"Ambassador… It is very important that we do not engage with this demon. This is not Yama, his name is Trigon… an omnipotent demon who will extinguish all life on the planet if we can not immediately find a way to stop him. Our government is currently putting together a plan of action and would greatly appreciate the help of the People's Liberation Army and the support of your government… "
"America's time is over, Wayne! It ended this morning when you declared war on the world. Mighty China will lead all nations from the madness of your new Rome, with its decadence, debt and false promises. And then we will present you with a treaty of surrender!"
The screen disappeared as the call ended.
"Well…" Bruce sighed with disappointment and looked at the men and women around him. "…That didn't go well."
"The world's not ready to work together, sir... And frankly, that Ambassador has always been a wanker." Bruce grinned. He liked this young, Asian lady general.
"Then we'd better get started calling every other government and confirm the need for a unified front. Line up all military resistance around Kahndaq available. I'll be making a network statement in ten minutes. Mr. Okama, alert the media room. Make sure it's on every and any channel with a signal. We're facing a global crisis on a scale of which we've never known.
And this is now mission central, the war room."
"Excuse me sir…" Someone from the back. "But we have a war room located on the bottom floor…"
"It will be a cold day in Hell before I set foot in that room again... OK everyone, I'll need an update in twenty minutes…"
Bruce watched as generals scurried to make calls on floating screens, the room suddenly abuzz with activity. The Asian-looking general who had called the Chinese Ambassador a 'wanker' now approached him as Bruce opened up his own screens - to search for programs he preferred to keep well hidden.
"Excuse me Sir, I'm General Liang..."
"You're quite young to be a General." Bruce never took his eyes off the screen in front of him, tunneling his way through walls of data-encryption and protocols.
"Yes sir, I'm a one-star General. Actually, until yesterday I was a glorified secretary. Three of my commanding officers were killed during the White House attack and the remaining C.O. was one of the men in the war room..."
"I'm sorry... What can I do for you, General Liang?"
"We need to talk about LexCorp, sir."
"That's exactly what I'm working on right now, General Liang... What is your department by the way?" Bruce was still engrossed in his screen, picking his way through a maze of information.
"I suppose I am the current head of Military Intelligence... Excuse me sir, but the Pentagon has an entire department devoted to covert Data Ops with some of the best minds in the country. I'm sure they could help you with whatever you're currently doing..."
"Let's be honest... LexCorp has the best minds in the country. Luckily Wayne Industries has one better. I'll be calling him in ten seconds. Your Data Ops wouldn't be able to help me with I'm doing at the moment."
"Yes sir. I just wanted to say that LexCorp has a number of off-the-books weaponry that so far we've only suspected. We need to seize these assets ASAP."
"My thoughts exactly, General. I need to make two quick calls, please stay here. There's someone I'd like you to meet." Bruce smiled at her.
"...Yes, sir."
Bruce brought up the ID for Tim Drake on a wi-screen and made the call. Tim was his VP of technology at both Wayne Industries and Wayne Communications and one of the truly frightening intellects on the planet. Bruce had hired him directly from MIT when he had graduated at seventeen. Now at twenty-three, he was the mastermind and creator of the Oracle technology and was capable of giving Bruce access to any information he required, by any means required.
In one of life's bizarre twists of fate, a young Tim Drake had actually been at the same circus where Richard's parents had been murdered. The night that had changed Bruce's tragedy-filled life into a life of caring and purpose had also affected Tim. It was strange how life worked sometimes. Keen blue eyes below dark hair answered the call.
"Bruce! You've been on privacy settings, you dumbass... You're at the Pentagon?!..."
"Long story, Tim. I'm back now. Luthor's dead, and I'm the acting president. I need you to initiate operation Tackle. I've opened all my permissions. How long will that take?"
"Good riddance, that explains the sudden share reversal... And for the record Bruce, I never sold." Bruce could see Tim's hands begin moving below while he talked.
"I appreciate that, Tim. But how long for the Tackle op?"
In his mind, Bruce calculated the share percentages that he, Alfred, Tim and Barbara held. Wayne Communications would be still under their control, but the four of them held only a third of Wayne Industries total shares, no where near a controlling interest. He wondered if it even mattered anymore.
"And... done." Tim smiled that brash, young smile. His resemblance to Richard was uncanny sometimes…
"Excellent... and Mr. Drake, I would like you to meet your new, best friend. Tim, this is General Liang, head of Military Intelligence at the Pentagon. General this is Tim Drake, my VP of Technology. I would like you two to work together on the sequestration of LexCorp assets."
"Sequestration of LexCorp? Bruce, you've just made my year!..." Tim Drake demonstrated what a smile from ear-to-ear looked like. Bruce could almost see the gears spinning in that brilliant mind.
"Yes, sir. Shall we begin immediately?" Liang seemed almost as pleased.
"First Tim, shall we call our old friend Fritz? I'd like to personally break the news to him…"
"Hell, yes!" It was as if Tim had received his Christmas bonus early.
Fritz Hollmann was LexCorp's Vice President of Research and Development, the equivalent of Lucius Fox. There was a joke in the industry that Hollmann could trace his ancestry all the way back to 1945, shortly after the Nazis burned their files.
He was the most Aryan-looking Argentinean that Wayne had ever met. It had been rumored that Hollmann's grandfather had been one of the foremost Nazi scientists who had fled to Argentina during the last days of World War II. Bruce was almost certain it wasn't a rumor.
No Hollmann descendant had even dared to set foot in Europe since the end of the war for fear of reprisal. Doctor Hollmann had made far too many enemies that had passed the rights of vengeance down from father-to-son, so heinous had the war crimes of Nazi scientist been. Even the family's future spouses had been carefully selected and then flown to Argentina from the Fatherland - with swastika-stamped bars of gold exchanging hands.
That Luthor had been able to guarantee the arrival and immigration to America of a Hollmann - to occupy such a prestigious position at LexCorp - spoke to the incredible power and influence of the deceased madman.
With Tim granted silent access, Bruce placed a call to a number he had no business of knowing. He had a lot of those numbers thanks to Tim.
A man with thinning blonde hair, and cold blue eyes answered in a strong German accent.
"Ahhh, Mr. Wayne. Have you called to explain the miracle of your company's stay of execution?"
"How's life at the ODESSA room in LexCorp, Herr Hollmann?"
"Very droll, Mr. Wayne. I see you are calling from the Pentagon… but not behind bars. What deal have you struck with Luthor?... I am most interested."
"No deal... I'm afraid I have some bad news for you, Fritz…. Lex Luthor is dead."
"I see… Well, these things do happen."
"You don't seem surprised…"
"Mr. Wayne, if you were to demand the nations of the world to surrender unconditionally within 24 hours, would you expect to live out the rest of the day? Luthor may have gained the secret of your weapon, but he had so many enemies and so few friends."
"Fair enough... Bad news number two, before he passed on, he used his executive authority to name me the Secretary of Defense."
"…And the current line of succession and lack of Secretaries would promote you to the position of unelected President. How fortunate for you. A first for America if I'm not mistaken."
"Yes... Bad news number three. There is an all-powerful demon that has just landed on Kahndaq. The U.S. government needs the military assets of LexCorp… ALL of them."
"If there is a need, then of course. We expect to be compensated for our cooperation… provided we survive."
"Oh, and Fritz…"
"Yes, Mr. Wayne?"
"That includes the Tachyon cannon you currently have in orbit."
"… Tachyon cannon, Mr. Wayne?..." Hollmann displayed the telltale twitch and guilty smile of bad poker player. "Surely you understand such things are only science fiction… The causal paradoxes of quantum mechanics prohibit such a thing. The speed of light is absolute, I assure you… LexCorp only pursued this concept hypothetically…"
"Really? Interesting… Say Tim, what was the name of the satellite we just took control of?"
"It's called LexCorp Tachyon Cannon Number One, Mr. Wayne."
"Wayne, please!... It cost twenty-seven billion dollars to build that! It has never been tested! One shot may distort the entire space-time continuum…" His calm German demeanor was now shattered as Wayne called his bluff.
"It may be the only chance we have, Fritz... The end times truly are upon us. If we work together, it may be a new beginning for all of us… But whatever happens, the world will never be the same."
"It is my life's work…"
"My life's work just killed eleven million people this morning… Perhaps we should retire as merchants of death and begin anew. Call your wife and kids, Herr Hollmann."
"I will. But before you use the cannon, please let me know, Mr. Wayne. I could die happy to see it fire just once. As a scientist, you must agree that the possibilities are endless."
"I do. And I will, Fritz." Bruce ended the calls and started on his way to the media room.
A nervous world awaited.
Author's Notes:
Fritz Hollmann is one of the actual aliases of a famous World War II criminal.
I'll let you look that one up.
The crack that Bruce made about the "ODESSA Room" is from the "Organisation der ehemaligen SS-Angehörigen, or "Organization of Former SS Members" - formed shortly after the end of World War II to help SS members escape capture.
The SS stands for Schutzstaffel, which was one of the most infamous branches of the Nazi party during WWII, led by Heinrich Himmler.
Tachyons are hypothetical particles that constantly move faster than the speed of light. Einstein's original theory of relativity states that nothing with mass moves faster than the speed of light, but if it did it would move backward in time. See Einstein's thought experiments on the tachyonic antitelephone.
Operation Tackle stands for "Take LexCorp". Tim and Bruce put together a program designed to hack and seize control of the entire LexCorp operating systems when Luthor was elected vice-president.