A sucker for you -Loki

She's The Man

"You get this. It's affordable. It's gorgeous," the saleswoman said brightly on the TV, holding up a foldable Christmas tree. "It goes with any decor-"

Static.

Her voice cut off as the screen flickered, and then the now familiar Mandarin signal blared across the broadcast.

"What happened to picture?"

"Go to override."

"How is this happening again?"

"Fine. Override to Los Angeles."

"I'm trying! There's nothing I can-"

"Where's the feed coming from?"

"I don't know, it's in all of our receivers and-"

"The entire East Coast, the satellites are down."

"It's not just our station."

"Do we have a backup manual?"

Then the aide turned to the screen, grim faced. "We have an unauthorized broadcast cutting through..."

Back in Washington, a man approached the Vice President. "Mr. Vice President, I think you should see this."

"Oh God, not again. Is the President getting this?"

On Air Force One, the screen in front of the President lit up.

First, an explosion.

Then, static and distortion.

And finally

the Mandarin.

"Mr. President. Only two lessons remain. And I intend to finish this before Christmas morning."

The camera shifted to show a terrified man on his knees, a gun aimed at the back of his head.

"Meet Thomas Richards. Good strong name. Good strong job. Thomas here is an accountant for the Roxxon Oil Corporation."

The camera zoomed in. Thomas was sobbing.

"But I'm sure he's a really good guy. I'm going to shoot him in the head, live on your television, in thirty seconds."

"No!" Thomas cried, panicking.

"The number for this telephone is in your cell phone. Exciting, isn't it? Imagining how it got there? America, if your president calls me in the next half-minute... Tom lives. Go!"

In a frenzy, the President's staff scrambled.

"He hacked my phone?" the President asked, disbelief in his voice.

"We can't allow terrorists to dictate-" his advisor began, but the President cut him off.

"I have to make this call."

"I'd strongly advise against that."

"It's the right thing to do."

He dialed.

Everyone in the room held their breath as the phone rang.

And rang.

And rang.

On screen, the Mandarin didn't flinch. No answer. No reaction. Just cold silence.

Then he pulled the trigger.

Thomas collapsed, lifeless.

The room erupted into gasps.

"There's just one lesson left, President Ellis," the Mandarin said, leaning closer to the camera. "So run away. Hide. Kiss your children goodbye. Because nothing, your army, your red, white and blue attack dog, can save you. I'll see you soon."