Liam questions, "So why hasn't the President tried to eliminate all of you yet, considering you guys are the direct opposition?"
Mr. N smiles, "Well, you see, that's where it gets all political and weird and tricky and all that. And if they did try to do that, then it would cause public outrage. War, civil war, Rep vs. Dems. Me vs. the President, Elite Guard vs. Elite Guard, man vs. man, citizen vs. citizen. Everything would be destroyed, and we would all lose. As a rival nation would swoop in when we're at our lowest and conquer us for itself."
Mr. N shrugged. "It's the worst-case scenario, so for years it's just been a chess match building up to our fateful day. The day of reckoning. Our presidential battle."
Liam whispers, "I see, you people aren't human garbage. You actually do care about your people."
Mr. N shrugs. "We have to. The Presidential Battle laws were made to prevent civil war and subjugation of people while promoting individual strength."
"Though I am blessed to be born in this era, MW isn't a stupid President. Honestly, he's really, really good. It hurts me to have to take it away from him, but we need more than good. We need perfect."
Siegfreed whispered, "And that's you?"
Mr. N ignored him, continuing his conversation with Liam.
"Plus, again, if a full-scale war were to happen, we would all lose our resources, our men, and it would weaken our nation to be conquered."
~Hey, don't ignore me.
"Me and MW (the President) know each other pretty well. We both fought in wars together. While we might be on opposite sides now, the last thing we want is to destroy everything we fought to build."
Liam fully understands now. "Mr. N was destined. This is a system he fully understands, and he's not under the rule of a tyrant. He actually has a somewhat fair opportunity to make change. But the catch is he has to depend on us more than himself."
Liam's heart sinks as he comes to a grim realization, continuing his train of thought. 'No… he's not lucky? He's angry? What if he hates that he has to depend on his Elite Guard to win him a position? What if he wishes the President was a tyrannical ruler? Wouldn't it be easier for someone of his abilities and character to sabotage, to overthrow the government?'
Mr. N rolls his eyes. "But this is rhetoric I've had ever since I was a 13-year-old boy. I could speak about this stuff all day. As you guys grow in the organization, you'll learn to understand more things. I hate long speeches and rants."
Aspera yawns. "It's what you're known for, especially at Hero School, lol."
Liam and Siegfreed, confused, look around.
Aspera notices the silence. "Wait, you guys never heard of Hero School?" she mumbled, perplexed. Liam shakes his head, signaling "no."
"Yeah, where Liam is from is basically the equivalent of North Korea back in the day. Not a lot of information gets circulated," Mr. N mumbles.
Still hurts my ego a little, can't lie, though. ~Mr. N
Aspera: "Well, when Osprey feels better, I'm sure we can show you around. We have at least five institutions in America alone. It's where most of our lieutenants come from."
As more conversations happen, things seem peaceful.
Until finally, awakening out of his slumber, his heart rate causes the monitor to begin beeping, his eyes opening.
Osprey awakens, his eyes open, the sound of his breathing tube exhaling heavily, reverberating in the room like a giant respirator.