evergreen: the necklace.

prologue.

The year is 5321. After a century of preparing for doomsday, it finally happened. The last president of the United States is preparing for his term to end, and there was no one else in line to carry on the mantle after that. He had been a popular man during his tenure as president. People loved to speak with him about their experiences, but they were few and far between. Most days, his schedule was filled with meetings, speeches, press conferences; he always had something to do when he wasn't at his desk. There was no time for idle chat or small talk; it was all business, all the while trying not to let the fear show.

A hundred years ago, no one expected the news that their beloved country will end, solely because all of the pain the past leaders caused people from all around the world. No one expected that they would leave a generation without an outlet for its anger, or that it would be born into such chaos. And yet here they are, hundred million strong, prepared for the worst case scenario, and ready to defend what remains of their home.

Leaders from all around the world teamed up to fight America. A war between the superpowers took place. Each side used everything they had, using technology, weapons, tactics, and even some unknown force they couldn't explain. It was a bloody battle of attrition, of desperation to stay alive. The government tried desperately to stop them but failed every time. They couldn't stop them. No matter how many soldiers they sent out into the fray, they never saw the bottom of the barrel, never came back unscathed. And when it seemed like their numbers had dwindled, they ran out of ammunition. But still they kept fighting, determined to survive whatever comes next.

Americans were begging for peace. And when violence wasn't enough, they had to retreat to one solution: Bomb the whole country into pieces. To make America pay the ultimate price for existing. For creating their suffering. For destroying their culture, for their history, for the very reason it made them so feared. The last leaders of America told them that they should just talk it out, because they want their people safe and sound. But the foreign leaders did not agree, although they had a deal. They will bomb the country but give the leaders and it's citizens 100 years to prepare. And now, it's exactly the hundredth year.

Aurelius looks over at the window, staring at the ship he needs to pilot, and then looking up at the celing, muttering, "Papa, je t'ai laissé tomber, s'il te plait ne sois pas en colère contre moi.." (Dad, I let you down, please don't be mad at me) while letting his tears fall down after packing the last of his things in the Oval Office.