The new president had already arrived at the great White House. Years of electoral campaigns had passed, during which the Republican candidate had done everything possible to achieve his goal of becoming president once again.
Now he could think again: What will Ben and John say when they see me being sworn into the White House again?
Ben and John were his older brothers and, as always, their father's favorites.
John was a physician scientist at MIT, one of his father's greatest prides, and he always made a point of saying that John had achieved the great honor of winning a Nobel Prize for the Bargain family.
And Ben was a mad liberal who had stained the Bargain bloodline with African American blood. A disgrace that, to Heath's great surprise, had never been repudiated by their father, who always excused the middle son.
Ben had become a great businessman who had nearly reached the goal of becoming a billionaire, until he began using his money for philanthropy and, in the end, no matter how much he kept making, he never managed to cross the billion-dollar mark, because his wealth was constantly being used for philanthropic expansion.
Ben had used much of his money to focus on philanthropic efforts that helped the most vulnerable populations in the United States, and he became known throughout the country as the man with America's purest heart.
His father always boasted about that too.
Ben had used his commercial influence to help the American people confront issues such as structural racism and xenophobia against foreigners, which had created a strong positive and economic impact in the United States, especially in the Southern states, where the slaveholding past had left deeper scars on the American people.
And that was something Heath Ernensh could not have despised more, because he was a faithful defender of meritocracy.
And that was not even the worst of it, because Ben had gone on to have three mixed-race children.
A transgender daughter, a gay son, and another one who was an artist.
All of them had ended up being accepted by their grandfather, Samuel Bargain, one of the most traditional men Heath had ever known.
Which had, in the end, turned him into a brainless liberal.
And even though his father had changed a great deal, during this term Heath would do everything he could to abolish every liberal aberration in the United States, because he was a proud defender of the traditional, conservative American family.
It was an extraordinary day for the new president of the United States, and all the American people knew it.
But there was something that not even the presidential family could know at that moment.
It was more than confidential.
It was super ultra secret.
After entering the room, the president came face to face with something he had never imagined he would find beneath the White House. Before him opened a colossal tunnel that resembled some kind of infinite roller coaster carved into stone, with tracks plunging deep into the bowels of the Earth.
At the center of the platform stood an elegant, old-fashioned train car, clearly customized. On the side of the door, a small metal plaque discreetly read:
Presidential Transport — Exclusive Use of the Presidents of the United States.
The security guards opened the door and gestured for him to step inside.
The interior of the carriage was surprisingly comfortable, lined with dark wood and leather, with soft lighting that swayed gently as the car prepared to depart.
One of the guards, rigid in posture, stepped forward and asked respectfully,
"Would you like a cigar, Mr. President?"
Heath smiled from the corner of his mouth.
"Yes, of course."
The guard took a cigar from a small wooden box and handed it to the president, while another security officer stepped forward to light it with a silver lighter.
As the ember began to glow, the carriage gave off a faint metallic click.
The tracks ahead plunged into darkness.
One of the guards gripped one of the side bars and looked at the president.
"Hold on, Mr. President. The journey is long."
The next instant, the carriage began descending rapidly along the tracks, disappearing into the deep tunnel as if it were entering the hidden heart of the Earth.
But nothing had prepared Heath Bargain for the kind of monster he was about to encounter.
He entered the room still trying to understand where exactly he was.
The space was vast, carved from black stone and illuminated by a cold light that seemed to come from the ceiling itself. At the center stood a great oval table made of a dark metallic material that reflected light like solid water.
Seated around the table were several masked figures. None of them revealed their faces. The masks varied in gold, black, and silver, each engraved with subtle symbols across the surface.
At the four corners of the room, guards stood motionless like statues.
Three of them were humanoid dragons, tall, with dark scales and eyes glowing like embers. Their wings were folded behind their backs, and their metallic spears reflected the blue light of the room.
The fourth guard was a humanoid tiger, enormous, with dense muscles and a fixed stare that followed the president's every movement.
At the center of the table, a holographic map of Earth floated in the air. Countries, energy lines, and unknown symbols appeared and vanished while data and projections moved slowly across the planet.
When the president entered, the entire room fell silent.
Every mask turned toward him.
Only then did Heath realize something even stranger.
Behind the table stood an enormous glass wall, occupying nearly the entire length of the chamber. Beyond it lay something impossible:
A colossal city, lit by towers of bluish and golden light. Giant structures rose among immense caverns while unknown vehicles crossed the air in silence.
It looked like an entire metropolis built at the center of the Earth.
Heath tried to hide his astonishment and walked toward the empty chair that had been left for him.
As soon as he sat down, one of the figures at the table rose slowly.
The woman was tall—too tall to seem entirely human. Her pale hair fell over her shoulders, and her eyes carried a strange, almost metallic gleam.
She looked directly at the president.
"I'm glad you arrived, President."
Her voice was calm, but it carried unquestionable authority.
"Before we begin business, I want to congratulate you on your voracious victory. There are very few candidates these days willing to do whatever is necessary to win. And you are a fine example of the power of doing whatever it takes to achieve a goal."
She walked slowly around the table as she spoke.
"You are certainly setting a beautiful example for everyone in this room… and for your next terms in office."
Then she stopped in front of him.
"But let me ask you something, Mr. President.
Do you already know who I am… and whom I represent?"
Heath swallowed the rest of the air that still seemed trapped in his chest and answered with half a smile.
"Greid, I imagine. The great sponsor of my electoral campaign."
The woman nodded.
"Correct."
She placed her hands on the holographic table.
The map of Earth slowly rotated beneath her fingers.
"I am Liria Lilacc, chief of the armies of the Government of Greid and its representative in this part of the galaxy.
Every operation of the Government of Greid in this region is under my command. And any violation of the government's will… I personally take responsibility for punishing and handling."
She looked back at Heath.
"Everything good or bad that happens here… falls on my shoulders."
A brief silence took hold of the room.
"That is why, President, I expect your absolute vow of silence regarding everything that is communicated inside this chamber."
The dragon guards shifted subtly behind her.
"If you speak a single word of what you have seen here, you will be punished with death. Understood?"
He nodded his head.
"There is an entire galactic society surrounding Earth. However, because of the failure of Earth's former government, humans lost all access and all right to have contact with that civilization. Our work here is to do everything possible to ensure that humans never find out they once had that contact, and never make contact again with the Government of the Milky Way—at least not until the Government of Greid wins the war against the current government of the Order of the Milky Way."
"Forgive me for asking," said Heath, gesturing, "but I don't know whether you've ever seen our planet. It's tiny. And I'm willing to bet you haven't really known the humans who live on it either. Most of them are pathetic and defenseless, of course."
His gesture made it clear that he considered himself and everyone else in the room the exception.
"I believe we can learn more from you and contribute more to your cause. And you can be sure of this: humans are easily manipulated. I know that from personal experience. I do not believe we are any threat to your war against this Order of the Milky Way."
"Allow me to illustrate it more clearly for you, President Heath."
From the holographic table rose an image of five stars and their solar systems.
"These five stars are part of the Constellation of the Five Sisters, one of the galaxies currently deactivated within the defense system of the Milky Way army. The Milky Way is divided into several zones. And Zone 12, in which we are now, is one of the most powerful zones in the galaxy because of its strategic location near the galactic center, its population, and its high number of habitable planets.
When Earth fell, millennia ago, this zone became more vulnerable and, instead of being able to defend itself and wage war against our army, it became a reserve zone focused entirely on defense and rehabilitation.
If the Constellation of the Five Sisters leaves rehabilitation, Zone 12 returns to the offensive, and it is highly likely that we would lose Zones 24, 40, and 23, since they would outnumber us.
So let me make it simple for you, Mr. President: it does not matter how despicable you believe the human population of Earth's surface to be. I guarantee you this—if Earth finds a way to ascend and recover the right to reconnect with the Solar System of Solhara, everything would happen like a domino effect.
All the progress the Government of Greid has achieved over the last ten thousand years would be lost in a very short time.
Do you understand now?"
Heath felt intimidated by that figure. He had only just begun to notice her eloquence and her extraterrestrial beauty.
"Then tell me this: for what purpose can I serve your Government of Greid, if I am only the president of the United States?"
"At present, the Government of Greid is responsible on Earth for supporting several governments and conglomerates."
The holographic world map rose, illuminating every country that belonged to the Government of Greid in neon green.
Above each country floated the logos of the conglomerates tied to the government.
"Every one of you present here is a force of our power on Earth and performs a very important role.
Before Earth was fully sealed off from the real Universe, so that human beings might slowly awaken from their cosmic amnesia, artifacts of highly advanced ancient technology and magic were scattered across the world.
I intend for each of you to help me by collaborating in the search for and concealment of every archaeological discovery that occurs on the planet."
The dragoness who had been silently watching the president spoke:
"At present, a large part of the governments of the Northern Hemisphere are in partnership with Greid. But there is resistance, especially coming from the south of the world.
In addition to the tropical vegetation and other more hostile terrain dominating those regions—which makes the magical artifacts harder to find.
If any magical artifact is discovered there during the administrations of governments that refused Greid's bribes, it is very likely that they would release the technology and inform the world, which would be extremely problematic.
There are many countries in the southern hemisphere that are beginning to emit advanced magical and energetic frequencies, and we have had to double the doping of those regions in order to contain the flow and prevent it from contaminating the rest of Earth."
"Doping?" the president asked. "Surely you're not doping the American people too?"
"We have doped all of Earth since the beginning of what you understand as the dawn of human civilization. Why do you think humans die so quickly, or have become weaker and weaker?"
"Even me? Wow!"
"Do not worry, President. Soon enough all your genetic delays will be resolved. Be patient," said the dragoness.
"I'll continue. Of all the countries in the Global South, the one emitting the strongest magical frequencies is Brazil. Compared to South Sudan, which emits a frequency of 4.7 percent on a scale from zero to ten, Brazil emits an average frequency of 7.89 percent.
And recently, a record frequency of 8.89 percent was registered there, which is alarming and detestable.
Brazil's current government refused to be bought by us, even though it would have been 'good' for its people, and they limited our access to the country.
At present, they are leading a silent resistance movement, which has caused many countries to follow the same example, including major partners in the Northern Hemisphere such as France, the Netherlands, and a large part of the Parliament of the United Kingdom."
On Liria Lilacc's pale face there was an expression that mixed rage and disgust as she listened to the presentation of those facts.
Perhaps one of the only times she had shown any genuine emotion since the president had first seen her.
"Just as in nature: if we kill the mother, the young become disoriented and defenseless.
Much easier to conquer and dominate.
That is exactly why your arrival to our council has come at the right time.
I need your help to use your power and influence to turn the current of the storm in our favor.
Mobilize everything within your reach so that we may bring down each government that stands outside our dark interests.
If you do, you will see your status and prestige rise on Earth and beyond.
If you can give us what we want, you will become the master of armies, planets, and you will be respected on the dark side of the galaxy, which grows stronger every day."
"I will do everything within my power, you may be certain of that."
"Repeat the oath after me:
From this moment on, I surrender myself to the dominion of Greid, to serve him until death. I am a son of Grorg and I follow the wisdom of his word. I surrender myself to the forces of chaos and to their service until the end."
The president repeated it, and Liria Lilacc, drawing her sword, intoned:
"Today I name a son and warrior of Greid.
Long live Greid!"
Everyone repeated:
"Long live Greid!"
"Demia, bring in the feline."
From the same door through which he had entered, the dragoness brought in a feline almost the same size as the president, only slightly taller.
"Please," cried the feline, "you have no honor. Let me send one final message to my family."
"SHUT UP!" shouted the dragoness, hurling the feline against the wall.
"Mr. President, allow me to present the great scientist Felicio of Zone 22, who had been leaking our information to the Order of the Milky Way.
Because of this worm, we almost lost our checkmate.
That is why he will now have the honor of donating you his credentials as a citizen of the Milky Way."
The feline, who now looked more like a crying cat, hid his face.
"Bring the credential transplant machine!" ordered Liria Lilacc.
"You have no idea what the scientists of the Government of Greid are capable of doing, especially when there are no scruples involved.
Everything is possible," she said, smiling beautifully.
The soldiers grabbed the feline, who no longer tried to move, having already given up.
"Put your fingerprint down, you furry fraud!"
The feline placed his fingerprint, and his profile appeared on the monitor.
Species: Felis-catus-sapiens
Name: Felicio Bramelino of Lyra and Vega
Children: 14
Gender: Male
Citizen of: Oblivion and the Lunar Nation of Zone 13, Solhara Solar System, Five Sisters
Current Address: Zone 22 — Magnus Asteroids, Purple Beetle Mist
Profession: Father and Scientist
"Here ends the story of Felicio Bramelino of Lyra and Vega.
Now please, Mr. President, place your fingerprint on the reader."
When the president placed his finger there, all the information changed and was rewritten as new data.
And from inside the machine emerged a newly printed passport made especially for the president.
"Perfect, Mr. President.
From this moment on, you are a citizen of the Milky Way."
Everyone applauded, and for the first time in a very long time, the president felt he belonged to something greater than himself.
"When we leave the planet—whether for the center of the Earth or for the rest of the galaxy—you must wear this necklace.
It is called a matter-fold necklace, and it will be responsible for your new form.
Be very discreet, and never dare remove this necklace while you are outside the surface of Earth—or wear it up there.
It is extremely classified.
Once your DNA is altered, you will no longer suffer from health problems, and you will stop aging over time.
When your service is finished, you will be able to live on the most luxurious planets we possess, with every kind of wealth you desire.
Now, Mr. President, I ask that you follow Demia to the scientists' chamber, where your DNA will be mutated and purified."
"And you, Felicio… leave him to me."
Liria Lilacc, who stood nearly a meter taller than the feline, grabbed him by the scruff and dragged him down a dark corridor through another door that seemed deliberately designed not to draw attention.