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An Argument was filling the Air in Raiden's home with his two girlfriends, Kori and Raven; the air was thick with tension, their concern for him Endless. "You need to take a break," Kori persisted, her voice soft, yet firm in insistence. "This world unification plan of yours. you can't just plunge right into it! You're not well"
Raiden leaned forward, his voice trying not to break. "I'm fine; I have it under control, and I Need to do this. The world's falling apart; it's too divided, and the threats out there."
"WE KNOW" Raven cut in, her eyes narrowed with frustration, as she moved closer, her gaze sharper than it was used to being. "But what about YOU? Do you ever stop to think about what this is doing to your body?
Raiden shook his head and waved the comment away. "I am the only one who can do this, Raven. No other human is capable. I have no time for sleeping.
Before he could even finish, Raven stormed up to him, and without warning, she roughly yanked open his jacket. Raiden remained standing in place, reaching a state of complete shock, as the massive crack running across his body was exposed….a visible sign of how everything was taking its toll on him. Literally, as if his form was breaking, ready to crumble at any time.
"Look at this!" Raven's voice shook, her normally calm composure breaking with his. "You're falling apart! You're Dying, Raiden! And for what?" Her hands shook with fisted fury. "I get it, you want to save the world, but I really cannot bear the thought that one day, maybe tomorrow, you won't be here because of that."
Raiden's eyes softened, but before he could say anything, Raven continued: "Think about Me! Think about Kori. And most importantly, think about Zephyr your son!"
Kori, who was standing silently beside Raven, nodded in with her eyes full of concern. "We don't want to lose you.
Raiden's defense went up, his frustration welling up. "You think I'm NOT! thinking about you? About Zephyr?" His voice grew louder "That's why I'm doing this! I'm trying to secure a future for all of us….for him! I'm the only one who can make sure this world is safe!
Weighted by the situation, Raiden's fists clenched as his mind whirled. Saying nothing more, he turned abruptly and, in anger, stormed out of the house. His body was heavy, the crack in his form a reminder of what it had cost him to defeat Nyarlathotep-the Cost paid to an Outer God, for a mere minute of their time
...
Later
...
Raiden sat in the darkened, high-tech conference room, filled with the soft hum of holographic projectors. The air in the room was tense, his frustration from earlier still gnawing at him, though for the sake of the meeting, he pushed it aside. His vision for global unification had drawn both skepticism and support, but this meeting would determine just how far that vision could go.
On his right sat Merlin, his minister and most trusted advisor, who was composed as usual. His sagacious eyes were set on the screen in front of him as he read expressions from the most powerful leaders in the world. To his left sat Scáthach, silent as ever, her presence there to caution any foolhardy enough to cross him. She did not need to say a word, as her mere presence was enough to serve as a deterrence.
Across from Raiden sat United States President Elizabeth Ross-Forbes, her face stern. Standing to her right was Superman, his arms crossed in quiet but unmistakable disapproval. For now, at least, he'd sided with the U.S. government; for him, as for the others, there was no real choice. His eyes were on Raiden, but there was nothing warm in that glance. just the tension between two men who could feel and envision the future taking different paths.
Around the round table sat and King Arthur of Atlantis, scanning the room , and next to him sat Wonder Woman and her mother Queen Hippolyta, They had already chimed in, making their support for Raiden known, but it was going to be an uphill battle to try and get the other powers to budge.
Several chairs were situated around the table; their names flashed on the holographic screens in front of them, showing live feeds of leaders seated in faraway rooms scattered across the world. The most powerful nations of Earth were there:
Viktor Kovalev of Russia
Prime Minister Helen Wilkes of Britain
Emperor Ryuichi Nakamura of Japan
Chancellor Adele Moreau of France
General Minjun Song of China
And Sheik Zayed Al-Kareem of the Middle Eastern Coalition.
The meeting had already been in session; each of the leaders took his time to voice his stance on Raiden's ambitious plan for uniting the world. A few found it intriguing, others a threat to their sovereignty, and many quite impossible.
Now, President Ross-Forbes was going to break her silence. "Let's get this straight, Raiden: while your intentions may be good, what you are suggesting here is nothing short of a global revolution. Unite under one leader? Absolutely unheard of. The United States cannot and will not stand idly by as you consolidate power by means not of the people's will"
Superman's gaze once did not fall from Raiden's unflinching frame. His silence spoke volumes…guilt that he was not openly defying Raiden, but his support clearly lay with his government for now.
Raiden didn't respond immediately. He drummed his fingers against the smooth surface of the table as he fell back in his chair. His eyes moved around the room, stopping on each of the holographic leaders briefly before shifting to Arthur, who nodded encouragement to him.
It was Merlin who spoke first, his voice low and even but with great authority. "The people's will is Important, of course. Yet history has repeatedly taught us that at times the people are short on the unity necessary for actual change. When there are too many voices screaming, there is only chaos. What Raiden offers is not tyranny, but order. A way to unity where division has failed millennium after millennium."
Queen Hippolyta weighed in, her voice carrying the weight of authority. "Raiden's actions have spoken louder than words could say. Bialya was a fractured nation, on the verge of ruin, and yet in one day he molded it into a working, stable society. Are we to dismiss that simply because his methods are not up to the politics' standards of today?"
Raiden finally leaned forward, saying, "I didn't come here to ask permission." His gaze was fixed on President Ross-Forbes, who shifted in her seat slightly. "This world is broken. Leaders sitting upon thrones clinging to their power while their people suffer….I am the only one capable of achieving otherwise, I've proved it time and time again"
General Minjun Song of China spoke up from his holographic seat, his voice low and orginized. "Capability does not justify control. The world cannot be ruled by force. And as powerful as you are, Raiden, you are one man."
"A man who has done what no other has," Raiden spoke. "I have been part of the people, served the people, led the people, I have gone through so much to show the world that I am worthy of it, and now I offer it… Salvation. The goddess of this very planet, its breath guides me."
Helen Wilkes, Prime Minister of Britain, leaned forward onto her desk, her tone more measured. "We don't question your power, Raiden, nor your ability. But you're talking about uniting the world under your rule. That's no small feat. Nations like mine have histories, cultures, and identities which aren't easily set aside for the sake of a single banner"
France's Chancellor Moreau nodded his head in concurrence. "The world is not Bialya. You may have fixed one country, but the rest of us are not so easily governed.".
Arthur's fist landed upon the table with a great boom. "Govern? He is not speaking of subjugation! He speaks of uniting the world for the greater good! You speak of history and culture, yet all that has brought us is war damn WAR!"
Viktor Kovalev, a quieted Russian leader spoke with an even, calculated tone. "We have all seen the result of nations seeking global control. It always leads to bloodshed. Raiden, you're strong, but you are no different. If you seek to rule, you will face resistance."
Raiden's eyes narrowed. "Resistance? You think I fear resistance? Let me remind you, I feel like I'm talking in circles here and repeating myself, but I am much more than capable of erasing your entire nation within a fucking day….So what kind of resistance will you or any one here offer?"
President Ross-Forbes crossed her arms over her chest. Her voice was cold as ice. "You're overstepping, Raiden. You're not a king. You're not a politician. You're a hero. And what you propose is nothing but a silent dictatorship"
Diana's eyes cut from Raiden to the rest of the leaders before she spoke, the tension in the room eased by her words. "Raiden is offering a chance at peace. True peace. The kind we've all fought for, yet have never been able to achieve because of our divided nations. He isn't asking to be your king….He's offering to unite us all under a single cause"
Finally, Superman spoke his voice deep and resonant. "Raiden, you're asking the world to trust you with their future. But trust isn't something you can force. It has to be earned."
Raiden's eyes locked onto Superman; his frustration was barely masked. His voice was calm as he spoke, "You talk about trust, Superman. Let me remind you of what I've done. I saved this world from Trigon's wrath, stopped Warworld from obliterating us, fended off the Reach's invasion, and I faced Nyarlathotep, an ancient cosmic horror that none could defeat! I admit some of these, I needed the help of the Justice League….but what about these people sitting here ruling our world? What did they do? I didn't do these things for power; I did them because this planet needed saving! But these people? They only have their interests plus the interest of their own borders! Limited vision"
The room fell silent as Raiden's words resounded throughout the chamber. Leaders around the desk looked at one another, faces filled with uncertainty to annoyed respect. "If any of you weren't so intent on securing your precious seats," Raiden added, his eyes scanning the room, "Then you wouldn't be opposing me right now, instead. You'd be asking your people, asking them if I am the right choice or not, The people know what I've done. They know who I am." He turned to Emperor Ryuichi Nakamura of Japan and then to Chancellor Adele Moreau of France.
"Who saved your capitals when the Otherworlders invaded? It wasn't your armies. It was me and her" as he pointed to Scáthach
The Emperor of Japan had nothing to say, but nodded graciously in respect to the truth in the words of Raiden. Chancellor Moreau looked away, a tightening of the lips, unable to say it outright yet unable to refute the fact.
Raiden's gaze fell on the President of the United States, Ross-Forbes. "And you," he said, much keener now, "I've told you before….my actions are guided by the will of the planet itself. You know this is true. You've seen it, felt it. So why do you resist?"
President Ross-Forbes straightened in her chair, a weakening of the resolve. Her gaze darted to Superman, silent support needed, but Raiden's fervor was unyielding enough that she dare not say more. Finally, Raiden's eyes came to rest on Superman. "And you, Superman….What are you? are you the hero of the people or the hero of the country? Because if I walk outside, side by side with these leaders, who do you think the people will want to rule? We both know the truth.
These people, they don't have the respect of their people, so Ask yourself? How do they rule? Because they took it by being born in power, or abusing their power, or outright lying to their people just to reach this place"
For a second, Superman's eyes faltered but he said nothing. In that second, the room was silent; it could get no quieter, as if it too waited for someone to break the silence.
A second later, Emperor Nakamura of Japan decided to be the one to break the silence. "Raiden is right. During the attack on Tokyo, his ally was the one protecting it. Our people are in great debt to him, and we will agree to support this… plan."
He nodded slowly, and obviously reluctantly, French Chancellor Moreau spoke in measured tones. "France will also align with Raiden. Without him, Paris would have fallen. We cannot ignore that."
The holographic screen from Sheik Zayed Al-Kareem of the Middle Eastern Coalition crackled as his voice was added to the conversation. "Bialya is a neighbor, and we have seen firsthand what kind of things Raiden's leadership can accomplish. The Middle East will stand with him."
Raiden merely inclined his head in acknowledgment, his face unreadable yet pleased.
Prime Minister Helen Wilkes of Britain stirred in her seat, transparently unsure. "Britain is… sitting on the fence about this. We need more time to deliberate, but we aren't saying no."
President Ross-Forbes was quiet for a second, before his own words mirrored Britain's ambivalence. "The United States has concerns. We cannot give a definitive answer at this time."
Raiden now turned to Viktor Kovalev of Russia and General Minjun Song of China-both silent until now. Kovalev leaned forward, steely-eyed. "Russia will never allow your world domination plan!"
General Song nodded in tandem. "China resists any attempt at global rule. We will not be subjugated!"
Raiden's eyes flashed, but his tone came out equally calm, though cold, "It's not a world domination plan; it's a world Unification plan. You're either part of it, or you stand in the way of progress. The choice is yours."
Merlin leaned forward, his calm but commanding voice slicing through the heavy atmosphere. "While some of you hesitate, others in the world have already recognized what Raiden represents.
The various leaders around the large table regarded Merlin with a growing sense of discomfort as he continued onward. "I've spent the last several months quietly gathering the support of 48 countries across the globe. Nations who have suffered under the yoke of sanctions, exploitation, and colonialist powers for decades, if not centuries. And they stand ready to support Raiden's claim for world unification.".
Merlin turned to Raiden, a small smile of amusement crossing his face. "Shall I name them for you?"
He began, his voice steady and deliberate.
"Algeria. Ethiopia. Nigeria. Kenya. Sudan. Angola. Zambia. Zimbabwe. Ghana. Tanzania. Uganda. Tunisia. Morocco. Namibia. Mozambique. Botswana. Mali. Senegal. Ivory Coast. Cameroon."
Merlin's eyes flicked toward the holographic screens lining the room as he continued.
"Venezuela. Bolivia. Peru. Ecuador. Paraguay. Nicaragua. El Salvador. Guatemala. Honduras. Cuba. Haiti. Suriname.
With each name spoke to volume, a testament to this global imbalance.
"From Asia, we have Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Mongolia."
At last, Merlin's eyes sparkled as he moved on to the advanced nations.
"And as for the first-world nations cause of course, that's what you care about, right?… New Zealand. Portugal. Greece. Finland. Ireland. Iceland."
With a gleam of cold calculation in his eyes, Merlin straightened as he readied himself to press his point home.
"These 48 nations," he said with effect and with his voice echoing in the room, "add up to 2.7 billion people, roughly 34% of the world's population. Fully one-third of the world already stands behind Raiden's vision."
Those words had deeply saddened them. The whole room fell silent, and when the weight of Merlin's words finally hit them, he waited a moment before he really hit them hard.
"These countries are not just supporting Raiden's claim for some vague promise of unity. They do so because they grow tired of being dictated to….tired of their futures manipulated by the hands of powerful nations sitting in this very room. They are ready for change, and they trust Raiden to deliver it."
Raiden had listened patiently until now; then he finally rose from his seat, towering over everyone else in the room. His gaze drifted across the table, his eyes locking with each of the leaders. Then, in a calmly determined voice, he spoke.
"You have three months."
The leaders strained a bit, apparently not quite catching on.
Three months," Raiden repeated, his voice cold as a blade. "That is the time you have to pull out all and any troops, bases, naval forces, or any presence that might be deemed a threat in those countries under my protection."
The words rumbled like thunder through the tight air of the room.
"If you do not comply," he added on, relentless, "I will make it my mission to take them out myself.
The weight of his threat hung in the air as Raiden's eyes narrowed. "And let me make one thing very clear: if any of you threatens, pressures, or attempts to harm my nations, I will Personally, come to cut your head off"
Raiden's gaze flickered to each leader, daring them to challenge him. None did. They knew the strength behind those words. They had seen it.