The End

Prologue

President Ava Meyers tapped the pen against the transparent surface of her tablet. The motions created small, holographic marks on the screen, but she paid them no mind. She had been the second to arrive, with Emperor Tanaka right before her. They sat in tense silence as Ava shot him disapproving glances and he did likewise.

Suddenly, with a flurry of noise and movement, the double doors swung open, revealing four others. Two were muttering to each other, moving towards the table to sit next to each other. Ava identified them as President Esparza and Prime Minister Zavala. Both were too focused on each other to greet anyone else.

The other two were Prime Minister Abbott and King Pennington, leaders of Australia and Europe respectively. She was on vaguely good terms with both of them, unlike everyone else.

Once everyone was seated, the silence returned, only broken by the indiscernible whispers of Esparza and Zavala. She bitterly wondered what they were up to. She leaned away from the table, exhaling heavily in exhaustion.

In 2050, nearly six hundred years ago, there had been over two hundred countries in the world. But as global suffering increased, those countries banded up until each continent was only a single country. Now, in 2612, all seven continents were populated countries, each led by a single person who, in turn, became one of the world leaders. Ava had seized power and made her way to the top of North America until she eventually became the President. It had been long, hard, and dirty. She wasn't proud of some things she did, but she couldn't go back now.

Emperor Tanaka, leader of Asia, stood up forcefully after several more minutes of silence. "I propose we continue the meeting without Queen Griswold. It is up to her whether or not Antarctica receives representation."

Ava met his cold black eyes with her own steely glare. "No, we will not," she commanded. Tanaka narrowed his eyes, ready to argue, when the doors opened yet again.

"Ah, Tanaka, I see you are antagonizing poor Meyers again." Queen Griswold's gaze was icy in both color and manner as she entered, staring down Tanaka. Her black hair was pulled back to give her a regal look. "Don't mind him, President, he's harmless." Tanaka scowled mutinously and sat back down.

Ava nodded to the Queen, not willing to lose what respect she had worked to earn. She glared across the table at anyone looking at her, gaze landing on Pennington, who happened to be staring back. His eyes glinted with admiration, causing Ava's indignation to turn into confusion.

Griswold sat down with flourish, motioning with her hand for the meeting to continue, not that it had started anyway. Pennington moved as if to stand up and address the leaders, but Tanaka beat him to it. Tanaka smirked down at him from across the table.

"Nice to see everyone again," he greeted amiably to the others. No one responded, making his polite mask slip and reveal a frown. "Since nobody else was going to speak, I will report first." He grinned mischievously as Pennington rolled his eyes.

Tanaka's grin fell as he glared at each leader with cold eyes. Ava's previous abrasiveness dissipated as wariness overtook her. "All of you are to pledge your allegiance to me. If you do not, I will destroy your entire country, and then order for your own painful demise before I take over and rebuild."

President Esparza stood up. Xe bowed at the hip towards Tanaka, who smiled with tight lips. "I humbly accept your power over South America." Xe straightened at the hip and looked down at Zavala, who also stood and bowed. "Asia is clearly superior to Africa, and thus I submit to your rule within my country."

Tanaka grinned down at them as the two sat down again. His teeth looked sharp, like shark's teeth within the clinical lighting of the room. "Thank you, Esparza and Zavala. Because of your cooperation, you shall be spared and may govern over your previously owned countries. Does anyone else relinquish their countries?"