[03rd October 2010]
[Ocean View Hotel, Happy Harbour, Rhodes Island]
Reality annoyed me sometimes, or at this little bubble world of reality in the glorious and utterly terrifying multiverse that we all existed in. Overall of course I was happy right now; sitting here in this rather nice hotel, enjoying a rather nice breakfast after getting a good solid night's sleep and reading about the positive results of putting down those Injustice League lunatics.
The bloody toll in the several hundred deaths prior to that was somewhat of a downer, but in all honestly considering the severity of the attacks in the affected cities I was surprised by how low that figure was. Justice League and rapid police response there of course, and thank God for that really.Of course one major issue stood out amongst the really stupid fucking parts that had occurred in the aftermath of the operation was only in a small section of the paper I was reading.
Evidently the American government in this world was run by President Dimwit and the Democratic Party overrun with idiotic strawman liberals, or at least enough of the idiots to ensure nobody freaked the fuck out over releasing Count Fucking Vertigo. Hell the idiots on the bloody television had tried to somehow pass all of this off as a wise policy decision. Absolutely fucking bonkers...if I hadn't known they had asked Superman to escort the bio-terrorist back to his goddamned country because...
'Because sane countries, like France, likely would have shot down his bloody plane on the journey' I mentally grumbled cutting off a piece of egg and hash-brown before enjoying the taste. Yes the Americans, well Waller, had made us aware of the madness immediately after we'd taken unconscious Count Stupidhead prisoner and informed me orders were no mind-control or reading magic. No, instead it was a nice pleasant hospital treatment for 'Diplomatic Immunity' terrorist, before a nice pleasant private jet ride back to murderous shit-hole he called a country.
At first I thought it was a setup for a CIA 'foreign extradition' operation, or maybe a 'oops the plane crashed' one, but fucking NO he gets back home and into his bloody mansion. I mightily resisted the urge to growl as I finished reading the tiny article on that and turned the page to the deaths of the various murderous imbeciles via US Special Forces. It was all rather clear to me know that the US government here was either controlled by super-villains, or even worse, by complete and utter morons badly in need of regime change.
Considering the hilariously, nay horrifically, naive nature of politics over here compared to my first Earth I was sadly leading towards well-meaning liberal versions of Donald Trump. Best I could tell because Superheroes reduced government involvement in 'important' things like yesterday, and that encouraged electing idiots who wouldn't get humiliated when they tried to do something like intervening in the world as Rickard's Republican predecessor had tried with Kasnia. Something so mild compared to my past earth's America that it had led to utter political humiliation, followed by a bloodbath in the mid-terms for his party. Bloody madness it was!
'So how to deal with crazy lunatics who seem to be the law in these here parts and get somewhat saner people into power?' I mused yet again as I pushed away the now cleared plate with a sigh. A sip of nice warm coffee sooth the annoyance and woke the mind I found as I glanced out at the rainy day beyond. Misty rain or no misty rain the view of the sea was rather beautiful through the thick glass walls of the breakfast dining area. Really this place was getting marked down on the list of Nice Places to Stay, especially when visiting the team here in Happy Harbour.
I savoured the taste of the coffee and continued my relaxing view of mist on rain. The biggest issue lay in the fact while there were clearly those like Waller within the US government thinking somewhat sanely...it was also pretty clear how it could drive them towards crazier than crazy 'solutions' like Cadmus. Or President Lex Luthor in certain realities; which also bugged me too of course, but for some time last night while on the laptop checking news sites before I'd almost considered the pros and cons of such a thing. If it wasn't for killing Flash and the whole Superman probably going all Injustice or Justice Lords on the world...it probably wouldn't be too bad I guess...
'Oh why couldn't Batman turn his vast wealth towards political office instead of playing the rich dude in body armour punching poor people' I mused for a moment before shaking away the stupidity of the thought. It was hard to tell but I was reasonably sure Bruce Wayne did make some minimal efforts to effect political change in bizzaro-friendly American political land. In a way, it was rather terrifying to think about something like the whole No Man's Land thing occurring...because these people could genuinely write off a city as 'too hard to run' and pull that sort of nonsense to 'deal' with it. Changing that would require time and money, which...
'Both of which you have you bloody idiot!' my mind reminded sharply and I frowned tracking a seagull swinging low in the sky then out of sight. I was rich right now, even if the vast majority was basically run by SHIELD under the aegis of Tropico. Despite that it still left me sitting pretty with millions, and if I could persuade the bosses and then the likes of sane people like Waller over here...
"Hmmmm...time and money...hmmm that could work I suppose" I mused softly stroking my chin a moment and sitting back into deeper thought on the matter now my mind was somewhat clearer. While I couldn't just go around dealing off the stupid idiots like within my past life's clan and kingdom there were other methods in the order of democracy. Or at least within the imitation that the Americans used...indeed the very nature of their system allowed greater impact due to aggressive political influence campaigns. Something that wasn't as apparent or partisan as it would have been. Hmmm.
I smiled ever so softly. Naive and Innocent; I could work with that.
'Yes, yes, I can work with that. It would take years at best, decades most likely, but even breaking the system over here would be more beneficial to Ireland than allowing what currently exists to continue and create some disastrous meta-human hate probably, or allow aliens to march in and take over unopposed...or even get thoughts like my own of President Luthor not being too bad an idea' I mused steepling my fingers before me and trying to think more on that matter. There were weapons and tools that could be at my disposal and I was overlooking them because of fixation on my direct levers of power or action. Power came in many flavours and when the current rulers were not up to par, then should be democratically removed.
'The voters just need to be made aware of that minor fact, and of the need to make structural changes to deal with issues. Like with the Death Penalty and dangerous uncontrollable lunatics'
Since funds could be made available, and I was just barely of age, then it was time to start considering how to deal with those who got in the way of making the world a better place like the dimwit on the television right now giving a Presidential address. What was needed were Political Action Committees to organised support and funds for preferred candidates, Lobbyists under my control to push my agenda, Attack Ads to highlight the idiocy like was occurring and crush the more problematic and all the other tools that needed to be brought to bear.
On another world the Russians had shown the way for an outsider like me, and the Republican Party and their donors had indicated how to build a political machine to win elections. I hummed in thought. Funding could be deployed through a long chain of multiple offshore companies, and by adjusting the shareholding to the required levels money could be effectively funnelled where required without breaking US laws. The Law was a tool for the betterment of society and if one wanted to reform then one needed to use it even where it was corrupt...
'Target their system of elected judges and local level representatives would be the logical first step. That and gaining control, or influence at least, over the state level news organisations to provide a more favourable message for the need for reform. Bigger news organisations are too 'independent' compared to what I recall, and likely to encounter extreme resistance to being influenced, especially by a foreign organisation..." I thought narrowing my eyes and tuning out the rest of the world around me a moment "...and their social media is still only developing, and I have a fair idea of how it will develop, and can be made use of such development. Between bots and even using magical summons...maybe throw in some charisma boosting spells or items...'
Getting the likes of Amanda Waller on board was essential, as was my own government and maybe the likes of Doctor Fate, before getting started. But this was the foundations of decent enough plan in my view as it lay in rallying public support for the greater good.
On one hand developing the tools for humanity to be able to defend itself was important, but on the other ensuring it had the will to use to them to their fullest was just as important to the equation as recent idiocy had shown. The weak, the crazy and dangerous needed to be purged from the body politic of our best ally and replaced by those more skilled, competent, and favourable to my home's interests and my own goals. Well, the worlds interest overall too of course.
"Hehehehehehehehehehehehehe" I chuckled merrily gazing out into the mists. Yes, yes, this was actionable and worth planning. War was not always fought out in the open with swords and blades after all, but often in the shadows with...
Poke.
I blinked and looked up and too my side. Artemis was looking down at me with a curious look upon her face as she wagged a finger at me "No! Evil Laughter is forbidden! No plotting to take over the world Skulls!"
I huffed indignantly and motioned for her to sit in the chair across from me as I say one or two of the others drifting in the door. Seemed I'd taken longer than I'd thought to get up and have breakfast. Still no need to mock me "I am plotting any such thing thank you very much, merely about making the world a better place"
She snorted in amusement, a lady Artemis was not at times, as she sat "Is this about the Count Vertigo needing to have an 'accident'...you have no idea how much that talk between you and Warden Waller worried Superman and got us a big long lecture last night from Black Canary and Mister Zatara after!"
"That's hardly my fault. The man poison gassed cities across the world...telling the French government his flight path was a perfectly legitimate suggestion in my opinion! And of my government, and Ms. Waller, too as well"
"Is he still on about doing supervillain things like shooting down villains planes?" Robin's voice came to my ears as he appeared in casual clothes with sunglasses on. Expensive stylish ones at that, which were probably thanks to dear old adoptive and grumpy bat-dad. Idly I wondered if they had any special abilities as I rolled my eyes at the supposed 'joke' being made at my expense.
"I wasn't proposing we shoot it down, or do anything. Just tell those nice French people what they wanted to know...and kinda let nature take its course from there. Someone deserved a Darwin Award for public appearing on television and announcing he'd just poison gassed a half dozen cities! Honestly if I were your President Vlatava's whining would have earned them a happy friendly statement about how lovely a carpark their nation would make once we cleared out all the radiation if they kept threatening as they supposedly did!"
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