The next day a message was sent to Whitestone to the Cleaner Headquarters.
"2024 November 28th: Younen outskirts Outpost.
After the wave on the 27th of November, we detected twelve new signals of overhuman origin within the Second Reality. Considering the limited activity within the village will cease, we see no further use for the "quarantine". According to the instructions passed down since the closing of this place: In case of a wave turning 0.5% of the population of Younen into overhumans, the noise gates shall be lifted and overhuman passage should be allowed. Two cleaners will be appointed as lookouts. They'll gather data and intervene if the outsiders were to terrorize the citizens, though this is a last resort. Please send the opening request to the capital city, Demos.
May the tides keep us safe."
This message was passed down to Demos and made official. Within the next twelve hours the noise gates would turn off, the guarding of these gates would stop, and all ovehuman activity would be allowed.
Though the message was sent to Demos only, soon the streets of the towns near Younen were ringing with the news of this historical moment. Some curious of the new place, others itching for a fight.
In a town next to Younen, bearing the name Uradoori, the muffled cheering of ruffians and criminals leaked out of the tattered windows of an old bar. Screaming, shouting, breaking glasses all a toast for a more exiting day tomorrow.
"Keep it down there before I wipe the counter with you! And if you break a glass you pay for it!" The bartender, a tall and hairy man, often mistaken for a bear voiced his anger. Sam was his name, the innkeeper of the Broken Window. A modest bar with flickering lights, creaky old wooden floorboard, and cheap beer. Sam meticulously wiped every glass, keg, and pint until he saw his repulsing reflection in them. Proudly admired the fruit of his labor, then picked up the man who threw one of the glasses and threw him out the window. An apt name for this bar.
"For the window too!" Sam shouted through the whole the thug's body caused.
The other drunks jumped out of their seats and slammed the door open to the dirty streets where their friend landed. One of them taking carefully measured steps towards the man on the ground.
"…fifteen, sixteen, seventeen and a half! Oh come on! One more meter and I would've won!" Said the man measuring the distance.
"It doesn't matter! Pay up!" The one leaning on the doorframe requested the money with his palm open. "You too Bamba!" Said the man to his friend on the ground.
"Huh?" Bamba was a simple man, no words have left his mouth since he left his mother's claws. Yes… his mother had claws. He took out all the change he had in his pocket which he kept together by sticking them in a fist-sized used chewing gum. How clever. He threw the wet sticky money at his friend who in a quite ungrateful manner jumped out of the way.
"Ain't no way I'm touching that! You'll buy the next two rounds of beer!" Said the man, crumbling his winning in his hand. Suddenly the bear-like hands of Sam squeezed his wrist from behind.
"That'll be enough for the broken pint."
"Ay Sam! Cut us some slack, would ya? You know how Bamba is, his father was an alcoholic, his mother was... something!"
"Does his heritage apply to your stupidity as well?" Sam put the money in his back pocket much to the objection of the thugs. While they were arguing a new man walked by them slightly pushing the one pleading for the money.
"Hey Sam…" Said the man in a tired tone as he sat down slouching in a chair in the far corner of the pub.
"Hey watch where you're going kid!" The man left Sam with his money as he felt he could beat the money out of the young man that just entered.
"Oh, sorry I didn't mean to." Said the stranger barely turning his head to the thug.
"You think you're some kind of big shot who can just push around anyone?"
"I apologized." The young man declared in a nasally annoyed tone.
"And me and my two friends won't accept it! I think a barfight is due. This'll be a good warmup before we fight the fresh meat in Younen." He cracked his knuckles in excitement.
Before the thug could even blink the man quickly landed a jab square on his face sending him flying back with a bleeding nose.
"And now the barfight is over." The young man slowly put his hand back into his pocket.
"Far from it. Get in here boys!" The ruffian called in his two friends, and they surrounded him.
"Do you need some help Watch?" Sam shouted past the three thugs to his friend. "No need. Just pour out the usual for me."
"You got it."
SLAM! THUD! SLAM! THUD! Noises of gunshot-like punches and earth-shaking slams were leavin a gym on the other side of the town. A punching bag flew across the gym floor landing in a pile of other ill-fated bags. But the peculiar thing about these bags was the insides filled with concrete.
"Another one?! Hook! We'll go bankrupt!" Shouted a girl from the others side of the gym. She was the source of the other loud noise. As she slammed her sledgehammer down on thick truck tires, beads of sweat escaped her body flying past her purple hair.
"You talk like that isn't your tenth tire today!" Hook laughed at her as he took a big sip of his shake. "And these bags aren't just mine."
"I can't believe the others are still out. They just have to threaten a couple of groups and that's it. There'll be no banana protein shake left for them."
"Well you know how clumsy Med is. And Blitz is taking on two pubs. Watch, on the other hand is probably slacking off again."
Suddenly the man's phone rang. It was a video call from none other than Watch who was drinking his orange juice in piece. "Hey! I'm done with Sam's pub. You guys are already back at our place?"
"Hey Watch! We were just talking about you. How did it go at Sam's?"
"There were just three pushovers to convince. But I told Sam to leave a message for anyone who plans on entering Younen. The village is ours. Straight to the point, right?"
"Great! Now come back to the gym and work out! That orange juice must have a lot of sugar in it!"
"I'll take the day off. Tomorrow we'll have a lot to do."
"That's not the kind of spirit, a member of the Five Champions should have!"
"You have all the spirit I lack, Hook."
Hook burst out laughing. "You're right! I am full of life! Ahhhaha!"
The girl slapped him on the head. "Tone it down man! Your laugh makes my head hurt."
In the Gulf of the country Don on an man-made island connecting three countries
...
The average person will go through their life without ever meeting a world leader. They will never see a king, a president nor a dictator and probably won't even think about them twice. But one might think, considering how much influence they have over our lives that we should meet them more often than some relatives. Definitely at least once.
Leaders are a weird bunch. They like to mingle with their own kind, but not for enjoying each other's company, but as a form of play. They act like they have the same goal, that they are on the same side. They play the angel and point at the devil, but in truth they are at each other's mercy.
Only one of them needs to stand out of line, one renegade who disrupts the balance they created and the whole thing crumbles. One second, they are a peaceful bunch and the next they declare war on the enemy in the name of peace. But when it comes to resolving the problem, they ask you.
They turn to you, your father, your brother and tell you to kill the enemy's people who will in turn send fathers and brothers of their own. If you were to meet them one day, just ask them. When will they stick their own neck out?
The Grand Ceremony. A gathering of the leaders of the seven great countries. Sats, Solam, Don, Kon, Odel, Hottom and Ba'uh. Hundreds of smaller countries attended every year, but they had as much influence as a carp has on which way the river flows.
But how could these countries find a place where none of them would feel threatened by the other six? The Cleaner Organization's capital city: Demos. None of the seven countries had more influence here than the others. Some might have gotten more odd looks than others, but this was a place of equal treatment.
If you find it weird for an organization like the C.O. to have their own city, you might be in for a surprise. Demos was a microstate governed by the Cleaner Organization's chief of staff, and through a spiderweb-like system every cleaner outpost around the world connected to there.
Though maybe the best description I could come up with would be a fort with nigh impenetrable walls. A microstate on a man-made Island surrounded by fourteen golden towers, each nearing the clouds. The towers were connected to the main palace by hallways going from the base of the palace curving up to the top of the towers. Each leader resided in one of these with every second tower housing a high-ranking guard tasked with the protection of the leaders. The main palace in the middle had the largest hemispherical dome in the world with the following inscription etched into the entrance's hallway "A ruler might call themselves a God, but in here the only God is justice".
Now, to get to the seven people this saying addresses…
The first who arrived this year was the Lead Scientist of the country of Solam, Igram Telas. The man in his eighties walked his lanky figure through the hallways with his nose high up in the air. "How boring…how stagnating…" He muttered to himself as his son, Isaac walked by his side.
"Father you should rest! Leave the movement to your hovering chair!"
"And show weakness around the others? I was born with these legs and they can carry me until I die!"
"Let's hope it's sooner than later!" A familiar voice echoed behind the man. The person approaching Igram was a well-suited man with golden jewelry on every finger. The boss of the criminal county of Don, called Gabriel Finito. He shook the old scientist's hand squeezing hard as he could.
"When will you take your father's place already Isaac? When I was your age, I already took out my father."
"Out where?" Isaac, the man nearing his forties, replied innocently.
"How cute! The kid is as dumb as his father when it comes to real life!" The man walked past them chuckling.
"Don't bother with him Isaac, we can let some insults go from the man who supports our research so greatly."
"Igram! Dear friend!" A pale, scrawny woman ran down the stairs to greet him. The Prime Minister of Sats Ursula Ultmann. Her slender hands grabbed the man's shoulders and kissed him on the cheek.
"Ursula! What vigor? I haven't seen you run like that since your father's funeral!"
"It was a busy day! And Isaac! How are the children?" Ursula hugged Isaac with her boney arms
"Millie is as bright as her mother. She built her first rocket last week. Tony sadly has a hard time with quantum physics but maybe he's just a slow learner! We are hoping, that he can catch up to his classmates by the end of high school." Isaac explained with some embarrassment in his voice. "And how are you?"
"Oh, terribly as always! One week there is a plague, the next week Valhal'Al expands another kilometer! Thankfully Atla Sciron is on the case! I hope he can get rid of it in the next ten years." As Ursula explained, Igram's eyes darkened after mentioning Atla. He muttered to himself before taking a seat.
"Come Isaac! We shouldn't bother Miss Ultmann! The ceremony is about to start." As Igram ordered his son, he said goodbye to Ursula and sat next to his father.
Great trumpets sounded in the building as a short statured man entered. Two guards were behind him watching his every step, only taking one when he does. Kim Kang-Dae the supreme leader of the country of Kon made his way down the stairs, his gaze meeting with the other three leaders. He didn't say a word, but it meant that much more. When he was halfway down the stairs a loud shout entered the room next.
"Where is my music?" As the voice exclaimed, the trumpeters dropped their instruments and one of them took out Bluetooth speaker while the other set up a smoke machine and a laser show.
A young man ran down the stairs jumping around with two female dancers in glittery outfits following him. The son of Kim Kang-Dae, Kim Byeong-Ho. His father looked around embarrassed as every other leader turned to him smiling.
"Come Demos let me hear you cheer!" Byeong-Ho did a front flip into a split to the bottom of the stairs while the two dancers opened two confetti canons. The popping sound made Ursula flinch, but she quickly started clapping in appreciation of the show. Byeong-ho walked up to her and kissed her hand.
"At least one person has taste here. But trust me! By the end of the day, you will all applaud me!" Byeong-Ho's shout echoed in the halls hitting the ear of the next authority entering. The ground started shaking as men with dark brown skin carried a golden throne into the room. On the throne sat a large man wearing a red robe and golden piercings in his nose, lip, eyelid, nipples… he spoke with a deep voice shaking the bones of his peers. "Rejoice! It is I the king of Ba'uh, rightful ruler above all of you! King Kellan!" As he ended his speech a woman walked by his side elegantly moving her hips. She looked at her partner displeased. "And my beautiful wife Winda!"
"Good to see who has the power in the power couple!" Byeong-Ho chuckled to himself, before sharing a playful look with Winda.
"Silence your boy Kim! Or I'll cut his tongue out and feed it to you!"
"You were always a big talker, but never a man of action Kellan! Tell me when you want to cut his tongue out and I'll hold him for you. Otherwise go to your place and sit down!" The older Kim finally voiced his opinion, much to the surprise of his son. They had no time to discuss it though as thick smoke began to flow down the stairs. Ursula covered her mouth and nose from the sulfur smell, the Telas family all put on masks that filtered the air. While the other three families acted like it wasn't bothering them.
Out of the smoke the cold gaze of a man peaked at the leaders. He finally stepped out of the mist in his furry coat. Red and white paint decorated his skin which was lean and tense ready to kill at any given moment. This was the leader of the smallest of the seven great countries. The Head of Hottom, Comet!
"You needn't worry gentleman, this is a diluted version of my homeland's smoke, take it as a souvenir." The man shaded his orange, cloudy eyes, as he stepped completely into the bright chamber.
"Really? Because it feels like intimidation." Igram voiced his opinion which was supported by the nod of Kim.
"You make me have these discussions outside of my land and you are surprised when I bring some 'home' with me?" Comet walked to his section with his men, which was separated by a glass dome from the other attendants.
"Comes to a peaceful conference and brings a lethal gas with himself. Copper-hide barbarian!" Gabriel Finito spit on the ground which was immediately cleaned up by one of his servants.
"I wouldn't degrade someone because of the shade of their skin, you might find yourself trying on a bright red one yourself." Winda snapped at the man sitting on her far right.
"Was that a threat, doll? I am not intimidated by whoever Kellan decides to sleep with!"
Suddenly swords surrounded Gabriel's neck from all angles. The man froze in place as the smallest movement would mean his end. His guards stood up and poited guns at her, but Gabriel quickly waved them to stand down.
"My name is Winda, and you'll give me all the respect you should give the other leaders! If you haven't read the etching on the entrance, we are equal here! How do they say it where you are from? Capiche?"
Gabriel looked at her with blood gathering in his eyes, the man was about to erupt, but the doors were knocked down by someone, breaking the silence.
"And to think I almost didn't come! I would've missed a war starting between two powers. Wahhahha!" The man's bellowing laugh caused such storng winds it almost pushed Gabriel into the swords. "Please continue. I long to see the blood leave all of your bodies." The final leader of the biggest country out of the seven. Odel's first and last Khan, Ghengis. With every step he took with his large body the other leaders slid an inch down in their seats. His face had one star-shaped scar on his left cheek somewhat hidden by a scruffy beard. Hide armor covered his body and he smelled almost as bad as the gas Comet brought with himself. Kellan nodded to his wife who immediately put away the swords and sat next to him. Gabriel checked his neck and sat down keeping his gaze forward while Khan passed by.
"That was a close one Finito! I don't know if you believe in a god, but may I recommend Me! Wahhahha!" Khan held his belly laughing as he sat down with his two guards, one of them had a white mask with purple and brown stripes of paint going from where the mouth would be to the ears. "Hey Isaac! You are still alive! I thought for sure your son would take over by now? Or are you-"
"Khan I'd advise you to keep silent until the chief of staff arrives. I might be here, but I ordered my men to point every canon, laser, and satellite at your capital city. One bad move and you go home to a crater!" Igram interrupted Khan before he could finish talking, which no other leader would dare to do.
"How serious! Ahhahha! Fine! I'll let you have this!"
After the seven leaders arrived, all other rulers could enter and take their place. Hundreds of people filled the chambers and sat behind the country their nation resided in. A group of short, masked people walked in and sat behind Khan. A woman with dark black hair in a widow's dress sat right behind Ursula, but no one sat behind Comet's people.
Clacking of heels approached the podium where everyone's attention gathered. A determined, stern-looking woman sat facing the leaders. She stared silent for a second accepting the attention and gathering her thoughts. The leaders whispered in confusion, puzzled by the identity of the woman.
"Greetings to all the kings, ministers, and holy rulers of the world. I am Evelyn Game the new Chief of Staff of the Cleaner organization." The room filled with rambunctious discussion from everyone.
"I know that this might seem odd to all of you, but my predecessor, my mother, felt like a global conference should be an appropriate start to my new position. But I can assure you that I am qualified for the position and ready to lead." The woman tried to calm everyone down, unfortunately for her Khan stood up and made his way out of the conference room. But other people have shifted their bodies in their chairs ready to follow him. She looked at him walking away as a bead of sweat dropped down her chin.
"Five hundred twenty-four thousand two hundred and eighty-eight!" As she shouted after the man everyone went silent. Khan turned around to look at her.
"That is the number of new overhumans the last wave awakened. Half a million people got new powers, have no documentation on what they can do and all you are concerned about is the age of the woman sitting in front of you! Sit down and discuss how you will all handle the number of overhumans doubling over night!"
Khan looked at her and smiled showing his rotting teeth to her. He clapped as he walked back to his seat. "Please continue!"
Evelyn straightened her posture in her chair and let out a confident smile.
"First of all, I would like to request every nation to do a census on their new overhuman population. Right now, our technology can detect when someone enters the Second Reality as a brief disturbance in space-time, but we cannot locate or track overhumans. We know that Solam has been working on a way to do that and the C.O are ready to back that advancement financially. We also considered the Khan's power as a way to count at least some of the new overhumans, if he is willing to give that information away."
"I am willing to give you that information for the same amount of money you were willing to give to Solam!"
"That is unreasonable! You could give us a completely fake number and we wouldn't even know!" Evelyn was offended by the request.
"If we are talking about deception let's address you Miss Game! I know what you want from me. My power is good on whoever carries my blood. You don't want to use me for a head count, you want me to find them on the off chance the new wave awakened them in one of my kin." Ghengis slammed the desk raging. Guards all around stood up to face Khan, and in return Khan's men stood to face them. "You want me to find the Fire Without Light!" The building rustled with the restless gossip of people as Khan sunk back into his chair.
Evelyn swallowed slowly and slammed her hammer on the desk. "Five-minute break."
Outside on a balcony facing the main continent Evely stood and looked at the shoreline.
"Tough first day." Ursula leaned on the railing next to her.
"You can say that again. She always hated you all. She couldn't wait to put all the responsibility onto me." Evely reminisced about her mother.
"I knew. We... all knew." Ursula chuckled as she lit a cigarette. "Want one?" She slid one halfway out the box towards Evelyn.
"No..." Evely stared into the distance before speaking. "I guess being a world leader must be hard too."
"Oh, don't think I'm breaking a sweat. You just have to give the people what they want. But only enough to keep them in line." She blew smoke as she casually explained her methods.
"Why not more?" Evely asked innocently.
"Because they wouldn't know the difference, honey." She looked Evelyn in the eyes crushing the cigarette on the railing.
"The only days I'm nervous about my life are these. We all come to one table with the shitiest cards and act like we have a four of a kind. But each year the game gets more and more twisted. Trust me, in there, every last one of them is just as afraid as you are."
"Thanks for the kind words!" Evelyn awkwardly shimmied away from Ursula.
"Don't mention it, just maybe send a couple of billions on our way." Ursula chuckled to herself.
"What?" Evelyn smiled in disbelief as she wasn't sure if is was a joke or not.
"I'm not joking, we are desperate. Oh, and I hope Atla Sciron lives up to his reputation because the Valhal'Al is getting awfully close to my summer mansion. I'd hate to lose it." Ursula walked back into the ceremony hall waving goodbye to Evelyn. The young woman stood there dumbfounded, before following her inside to continue the conference.
Thus continued the 37th Great Ceremony. The things they would have to address:
- The halting of Valhal'Al
- The financial and territorial demands of each country.
- The new wave of overhumans,
- The possible appearance of the Fire Without Light
and something no one could've predicted .... The unexpected death of Kim Kang-Dae!!!