In all 21 years of my life, I have never been mentally challenged. Education was a joke, people were predictable, and life should have been a breeze. But no amount of intelligence and ingenuity can predict emotions, the single most unpredictable thing in the world. So when hidden emotions between my closest companions were my downfall, I swore them off, locking them away as well as I could; I only let the anger seethe through because I was incapable of containing it all. I had focused all of my attention on overturning the world, and making them all feel the same pain as me. So I finished all of my education at record-breaking speeds, built the foundations for my global enterprise, and gained as many connections to powerful people as I could.
In 4 years, I was the youngest billionaire of humble origins. The speed of my growth was unprecedented, but the majority of the world had no clue who I was. This was because I made deals, and bargains, and did what I could to stay hidden from all but the top 1% of people; which includes leaders of countries, big-name organizations, and revolutionaries in their respective fields. Could I have grown faster if I didn't try to stay hidden? Absolutely, and it is the single most argued point among the top brass I surround myself with. But I pay them enough for them to not care.
With my now ever-growing influence, it's time. I have unofficial control over dozens of small countries dotted around the world, and many of the inhabitants only know me as their savior. With my immense assets, I train and equip my army with cutting-edge technology, all the while amassing more wealth and influence. At the age of 26, I had started global confrontations, sparking worldwide tensions. Still unofficially controlling most of the smaller countries, I had kindled the beginning of World War 3.
It took the rest of the world 4 years of fighting, right around when I turned 30 before they finally realized that I was the one who took control of and sent to war, the majority of the smaller countries that have combined to form one unionized coalition. I made worldwide news, became global enemy numero uno, etc. The normal thing to happen to an up-and-coming dictator. World domination is given such a negative light.
Regardless, the rest of the world was behind technology-wise, so it was easy pickings for the first bit of the war. At the behest of my advisors, I got a palace. I barely wanted a mansion, but apparently, I can't just go simple. Either way, I didn't care; my domination stood at a healthy 25% of the world, and that was steadily rising.
Now that I have made it to this point, I think it's time I show the world the answer to the single most asked question…
"Why?" The voice I hear in my memories, the one that plagues me every time I close my eyes, was barely audible coming from the disbelieving face of Casandra as she and Charles knelt at gunpoint in front of my throne. Pretty gaudy, but it's effective in mental warfare.
"Why, you ask?" I got up from my throne slowly and took deliberate steps in her direction. Each step flashed more memories, sending shockwaves through every fiber of my being, and with every step, my memories were broadcasted through the worldwide live stream I had going. Every person alive saw my broadcast, watching my very first memories to right as I was betrayed, including the two culprits kneeling in front of me. As they saw the memories, they heard me go on.
"Did you know, that I have a memory so good that I can remember every single detail of a memory? For example, I remember my family's car ride being nice, and being a truly happy time. I remember the exact temperature, the taste of the cookies my mom made, the sound of my dad's music." As I described the scene, the broadcast played the memory from my point of view.
"But then I remember the truck's squealing tires." It showed the headlights coming.
"The sound of my mother being hanged like a puppet." It showed and gave an audible crunch of my mother's corpse.
"The taste of my dad's brain matter as some hit my tongue." It cast a vivid image of my dad's brains everywhere.
"And I remember my sister, my baby sister whom I basically raised as my own, being beheaded; the feeling of her decapitated head on my lap as she blankly stares at me for help I could never give." With a final image of a happy, young girl suddenly helpless and covered with blood, the broadcast once again focused on us, with me now a pace away from them.
"I'm sure you were unaware of this, but I was going to tell you about this that day." The images shifted to a video depicting my old house, with me going to it blissfully unaware. "It was the anniversary of that horrid crash, yet I felt an urge to tell you that was stronger than my fear. But a surprise was waiting for me indeed." The single moan from past Casandra was all it took for millions who have gone through the same thing to know what was coming.
"No…" With a look of horrid realization, she gave me pleading eyes, screaming for me to stop, but I just numbly stared back at her.
"Fun fact, I only told two people about what I saw. Until now that is because now it's no secret that I'm a bit fucked up. But other than my therapist, which you insisted I have to help me, the only other person I told," I looked at Charles, visibly so that even the broadcast could see, "was you. You were my best friend - nay, my brother! I would have done exactly what I am doing now FOR you, but instead, you made me do this BECAUSE of you." The moment I walked in on them was displayed in stop motion for everyone to see, and it stuck there in silence for a solid minute before the stream was back to only live footage.
"I'm sorry-"
"NO!" With the most emotion I've genuinely given in a long time, I kicked Charles backward. "You do not get to be SORRY, because that is for accidents! You knew about all I had gone through; you knew how bad my mentality was, but you still did it! You took the trust I gave you, and RIPPED IT IN HALF!!" With my mechanically augmented body, I lifted Charles into the air by his neck.
"BRAXELY!" Cassandra attempted to get up but was forcefully made to kneel by the soldier I had watching over her. I could see he was visibly disgusted with these two since he was a zealot for me. "Let him go! You're going to kill him!"
"Oh, Casandra. Haha… HAHAHA!" Giving an unhinged laugh, I dropped Charles. As she gave a small look of hope, I crushed it by crushing Charles' head underfoot. "Don't you get it? THIS!" I motioned around to my throne room, accentuating the map that actively updated my conquest progress. "This is your doing. And now the world knows what you've done, as I have all these years. Everyone against me will blame YOU for my actions, and seeing as there is only one of you left, you'll have to take the punishment yourself. Jonathan!"
"Yes, sire?"
"Take her away, I'm done here." And with that Casandra was taken away, ashen white and dumbly staring at me. The broadcast was ended, and instead, it displayed and read what my ruling would mean. I termed it a Democratic Dictatorship, where I hold ultimate power, but they can rule themselves however they want. This was apparently more appealing than getting forcefully taken over, as within a year I had control of 53% of the world. The majority of those who kept to their side were the countries directly involved with the global superpowers.
… I finally got revenge; I humiliated both of them, killed Charles, and am giving Casandra her punishment. I have a majority of the planet controlled, I'm basically untouchable, and nothing truly stands in my way… so why? Why don't I feel better, why don't I feel complete… why do I feel doubt? This is what I've wanted for so long, and I'm so close, but I don't feel happy about it, and I'm not excited about it… Could I have been wrong? Was all the death and destruction I caused for nothing?
As I sat on my throne, pondering what to do with this growing doubt, I heard distant explosions go off. Simply tapping a few buttons, several holographic screens popped up in front of me, flipping through several cameras until the explosion's source was found. Expanding the one screen, it could be seen that there was a massive armada coming in my direction, and for some reason, they were making progress. Weapons of my making were being used against me, the numerous people under my rule were dying, and I could only ask myself if this is what I envisioned all those years ago. As I sank deeper into thought, the screen beeped twice, before flipping involuntarily to show a collection of world leaders that were the remaining force against me. The United States General stepped forward.
"Braxely Yakuto, stand down. You have nowhere to run to." As he said this, I turned on more screens only to see the remaining militaries of the world surrounding me. With the forces I had, I wouldn't be able to succeed in a final stand, now that they had equal technology.
"Kralik."
"Yes, sire?"
"Tell the troops to fall back, and bring me the generals from the screen."
"But sir! You'd be giving up!"
"No, I'm saving us from more casualties." I stood up and walked behind my throne, pressed a button, and ordered a full retreat of all forces in the line of fire. I went back to my throne, double-tapped a screen, and the one-way transmission became two-way.
"Well, what are you waiting for general? The path is clear for you. I'll be waiting." As the transmission ended, I sat back down and just closed my eyes. 15 minutes later, a group of generals and leaders walked into the throne hall, most couldn't help but look around at the grand hall they walked into, but 1 man didn't. The hidden leader of a secret military branch for the United States of America. His name; "Jonathan Redwood. So this is why you asked to go undercover in America."
"Yes, well I'm sure you understand why I did what I did. You are a leader of the majority of the world, punches can't be held." If it weren't for the extreme doubt I was feeling right now, I would've been deeply wounded by yet another betrayal. Jonathan was one of those people that got under your skin in the best of ways, making even the toughest of shells crack open, me included. But I guess he was just doing a job, as I couldn't find even the slightest shred of remorse or guilt for doing this.
"You were one hard motherfucker to catch; in all my time under you, this was the only chance to actually take you down."
"What can I say? I'm cautious."
As we threw some casual banter at each other, like he wasn't about to throw me into some high-max facility for the rest of my life, the other generals began to get antsy. The culture differentiation was something I was going to work on, but it seems someone else will have to. As the banter wound down, I became curious, so I got up and walked closer to the opposing party.
"Before we do anything from here Jonathan, I would like to know why you did what you did."
"This is getting ridiculous! Shouldn't we bring him in already? This man was trying to control the world! Why should we-"
"What would you know of my goals, General?" Feeling the leader's pressure I gave off, the General flinched and slightly staggered back.
"You wanted to know the reason behind my actions?" Stepping a very slight step forward, Jonathan straightened up, like he was reaching deep within himself to give the truth to me. "Simply put, it is because your conviction began to waver."
"My conviction?"
"Yes, your conviction. A man without a goal, with your power, is more dangerous than you continuing to aim for worldwide control." Despite his philosophy being correct, how he knew of my conviction is a mystery. I guess getting consumed by the pain wasn't the right way to deal with it, and I should've known it would backfire to have doubt.
"Well as inspiring as that was, you caught me. I guess it's time I-"
*BANG*
"... that's unfortunate." Falling to the ground holding my chest, I began to feel my heart beating fewer times per minute. I've been close to death before, but getting shot in the heart, even for my enhanced heart, is enough to make it fail.
"NO!" Jonathan yelled as he ran and caught me.
"Heh, you do care. And here I thought you were just a heartless government dog."
"Of course, I care dumbass, but you were too dangerous to let be!" He began tearing cloth to try and do something, but I grabbed his arm.
"Don't. It's better for everyone if I'm not around anymore."
"But-"
"Shut up, I don't have much time." I shakily tapped my chest three times, and an impenetrable bubble surrounded the two of us.
"What is this?"
"It's a defensive bubble, no one can hear us, and all connection outside is cut, so just listen! You were right, 100%. I became doubtful after I got my revenge, and my plans were much bigger scale than anyone but I know." I broke off my pinky, causing Jonathan to yell at me until he saw that it was a fake, and it held a hard drive. I hid it in his hand and continued.
"In this is everything I know. All I've been working on, what I've been working towards, and my plans for the future. It also holds every legal document that is required to be the Democratic Dictator of Armonia. As well as everything that is needed to self-destruct the whole operation, though I'm not sure how safe that is."
"Does this mean…"
"Yes. Jonathan Redwood, I choose you to decide what becomes of this world. I have trusted your judgment before, and I will do so again. Share this with no one, no matter how much you trust them. Go forth, and be the voice of advancement!"
Jonathan sat there silently, rubbing the hard drive gently until he set his gaze on me completely. It was only a nod, but it was all I needed. I smiled my first real smile in years and activated my killswitch. My body composition was augmented with enough tech that I could've taken on a regular army by myself, so I set a disintegration protocol I got from that one movie set with the big purple man. As I began to crumble, I took my final breath, I said, "Good luck."
And I vanished.