On Astral Tides: From Humble Freelancer To Astral Emperor

I was asked to take a photograph shaking hands with the President, which I refused, as I didn’t want to show any endorsement for him, as it was none of my business what the Americans did, so long as they stopped their criminal and wasteful treatment of Chosen, but when it was pointed out that not doing so would be in itself a statement, as every guest at state dinners inevitably took a suitable photograph with the President, I gave in. I did warn him that he couldn’t use my photograph out of context, and he agreed, extremely cheerful as he had gained the concession he wanted, the promise of my Chirurgery.

Those seated around our table had changed, the two politicians now replaced by Gina and Christopher. Christopher was trying to play it cool, but I could see beads of sweat on his brow and the faint tremors in his muscles that indicated nervousness. Hold it together. You really didn’t do much wrong except give me a heads-up on something the President revealed anyway.

“There’s still my point from earlier.” Adam pointed out sourly. I had restored the shield of wind to block sound, as our conversations weren’t something we wanted others, especially Chosen, to hear. The President had been hinting pointedly about the possibility of getting cooperation from our new company, but before he could make it explicit, Adam had broken in again, irking him.

“Is now the time for this, Director?” the President scowled. “You’re already on thin ice.”

“I think it is.” Adam’s gaze was cold. “The fact that these powers can be transferred opens a lot of dangerous possibilities. More to the point… it makes you more of a threat.” He warned me.

“You’ve already designated Akio the highest priority on your little list, Adam.” Christina chuckled. “If you keep revising it, it loses its value.”

“I don’t want to hear that from you!” he snapped. “Isn’t science all about reevaluating things based on new knowledge and findings?”

“Exactly!” Christina pointed out triumphantly. “And you need to reassess how you see things.”

“Bluntly put…” Gina spoke with her usual brusque manner, likely masking concerns. “…you’re saying we have to adapt our thinking?”

“Of course.” Christina nodded. “After all, so much of our actions were based on flawed premises in the first place.” She glanced at Christopher. “So there’s no need to worry, Chris. Your kids are safe from me. Although… if they really want to harness their gifts, they should get the best tutors.”

“Lay it out for me. Your reports so far have all been crap. They’ve improved…” the President conceded. “…but it’s still just half-baked nonsense. I’ve learned more just drinking coffee and talking…”

“Yes, Mr President.” Adam bit down on a sigh. “…simply, there has been no second wave of the black cats…” As I narrowed my eyes, he changed his terminology. “…ability users, and from the information, which I hasten to add is speculative, incomplete and highly untrustworthy…” His gaze flickered to me, and I had to incline my head. Of course he wouldn’t trust it, since he doesn’t trust the Favours themselves…

“…there is unlikely to be a second advent, what we have now is all we will discover. Imagine this, Mr President.” He leaned forwards, his coffee forgotten, cooling on the table. “The greatest weapons of humanity, nuclear bombs. Say… there is only enough uranium on earth to manufacture eight hundred. We would have four hundred, Russia three hundred and fifty, and fifty more scattered around a half dozen other countries. Power would be balanced. But now, suppose that a country… for example, Japan…” He eyed me warily. “…comes along, and can not only destroy said weapons, but can also effortlessly steal them for their own. In a year, perhaps now it might not make much of a difference. Fifty for Japan, thirty around the world, and we are down to three hundred and eighty-five. But Russia would also be down, to three hundred and thirty-five. Other than Japan now being in a position of strength, not much has changed. But if that was to continue unabated…”

“Soon Japan would have hundreds, exceeding ours and Russia’s.” the President nodded. “And that would leave us at a disadvantage.”

“From just listening to his talk of batteries and electricity generation, you can assume that the analogy doesn’t just apply to weapons.” Adam warned. “Honestly… from our viewpoint, you’re too dangerous to let live, Akio.”

His words seemed to be a threat, but we both knew he couldn’t challenge me again without being certain of the outcome, which he wasn’t. “That’s certainly feasible.” I agreed calmly. In addition to coffee, a massive display of confectionery, football-sized crystal sugar balls, set on a base of white chocolate, with heaps of American cherries, and other fruits had been wheeled out. Adelheid had of course been brought a large serving of it, and Christina was eating it too, in-between her alternating biting and teasing remarks to Adam, her expression when she was enjoying the dessert a far cry from her usual ones, making her look like an ordinary woman for a change.

“The problem is there’s a number of faulty assumptions involved. But… is it really for me to correct them? After all, knowledge is a priceless commodity, isn’t it?”

That’s right. It benefits us clearing up their misconceptions about Chosen matters, but why do something for free when we can get paid, or at least earn a favour? Hinata was eager to strengthen our position.

“I like to think we’re all friends here, aren’t we?” the President smiled brilliantly. “There’s no point holding out on us.”

“Oh yes, friends. Just like the poor innocent citizens of other countries who are even now held in American incarceration.” I remarked dryly, and for a moment the jovial façade of the President cracked. He weighed me up, before turning his attention to the others around the table.

“I knew nothing about that.” The President insisted. “Those actions were taken by our well-meaning Directors here. Besides, I understand it’s all in the past, and didn’t happen, yes?”

“True, but whether we acknowledge that or not, expecting me to be open and generous is asking too much.” I insisted. I turned to Adelheid then. “You’re really enjoying that. Do you have a sweet tooth, Tanya?”

She gave me a flat look, her blue eyes cold, now well used to my occasional misnaming of her, taking it as the joke it was, while she sipped at her coffee. “Yes, I like sweet things. So what?”

“Nothing.” I grinned. “Just Tanya was very keen on coffee too, it’s amusing. And your expressions match your appearance now.”

“Why are you trying to find the hair in the soup? How I look hardly matters.” She puffed out her cheeks, but didn’t stop eating and drinking. As I conversed in German, I could see everyone except Christina growing more tense around the table. Having made my point, I took everyone in. “All right then. I don’t want it said I’m unreasonable, but… knowledge is power, yes? Surely sharing mine is worth something.”

“And what do you want?” the President asked. “I’m prepared to be reasonable…”

“Mr President, you can’t promise things that need to be ratified by Congress…” Gina began. He waved that off though.

“We can at least hear him out, no? This is a mess of your making, the Agencies have been extremely disappointing so far. A crisis comes and you all fall to pieces. The marsh has stagnated for far too long.” He turned to me then. “So, what’s your price? And what information?”

I held up my hand, three fingers sticking up. “Firstly, you’re wrong about Divine Favours. Secondly, you’re wrong about the dangers we face, and thirdly, you’re wrong about the benefits we can obtain.” I lowered my three fingers. “You know, I’m very fond of the way that Fae do things.” Ignoring Christina’s teasing that I was just thinking of Shaeula, I shrugged. “Three Oaths for three Boons. While we’re not making promises… information for results.” My three fingers were once more raised.

“Firstly, support against the Church of True Revelation, and also… well, I’ll explain if you agree.”

At the piercing look the President was giving me, I stared back, unmoved. “Secondly, information sharing…”

“That’s far too dangerous…” Adam began, but I shot back.

“You think far too small. This isn’t the time for us to jealously hoard our influence and past glories, like an aging dragon sitting on its hoard. As you’ll see…”

Yes, it’s time to start building a grand coalition. Though… South Korea have been extremely disappointing, despite all my personal efforts. Hinata was sulking, her thoughts through Eri’s bond pouty, which I found cute. Somehow able to tell Hinata knew that and was blushing, I let her change the subject. You know, depending on how the political infighting in their Blue House goes, we might lose our support there entirely. Which renders all our efforts there pointless.

Not pointless. I disagreed. After all, we gained Yu-Mi, Violet-noona and her Hunter Guild, as well as some Favours. We still had the prisoner captured, and his Favour would be extracted soon. I had a feeling I knew who it would be suitable for, especially since we had gained a number more prisoners due to my girls’ exploits during my absence, and a similar one had been gained.

Yu-mi, huh? Yeah, I definitely think she’s got a lot of potential. I never would have thought that at the start. Of course, she’s got poor judgement when it comes to men. Fancy turning you down! Hinata’s giggle was loud in my mind. Perhaps we’ll have her run for President of South Korea if things go wrong. Wouldn’t that be something?

We shared a laugh across our rapid exchange of thoughts, mere moments passing. South Korea was like Japan in a lot of ways, rather patriarchal, and also very age orientated, so a young woman like Yu-mi would ordinarily be laughed off the stage. But… these weren’t ordinary times.

Anyway, you’re doing good, Akio. Hinata got to the point. From everything I’ve heard about the President, and from what you’ve shared today, he’s got one great weakness. Just keep exploiting it, and we’ll make him an ally. Even if he’s not popular at home, or loses the election next year… well, in a year, our Territory, Haru-san’s too, both should be Rank four… at that point, our influence at home and abroad should be rock solid.

“Thirdly…” After the brief mental conversation, I lowered my final finger again. “…international exchange. There might be circumstances when we seek a… secondment… of some American Chosen.”

“Absolutely outrageous!” Adam was incensed. “You can steal abilities, that would just be feeding a monster…”

“Monster?” Christina spoke for me, narrowing her blue eyes, which were now as cold and hard as little sapphires. “Adam, you really are a fool sometimes.” Ignoring his angry glare, which I wondered if it was because he felt the situation was slipping out of his control, she explained. “We’re the monsters. I see that now. What I felt, what I’ve experienced…” She shuddered a little. “…and what I see reflected when I look into his eyes…” She glanced at me then, a faint rosiness in her cheeks. “…I don’t much like. But… I didn’t know any better. It’s not an excuse… I was still wrong. And even now, I second-guess myself all the time. Because the only framework I have is what I think Akio won’t approve of. Which is hard…” She winkled at me then, surprising me. “…as he can be an insane risk-taker. But who said life would be easy?”

Adam opened his mouth to retort, but she cut him off. “Akio was right. You are fearful Adam. I sought to understand, you only seek to control, to force everything new into the narrow box we have called the now. It’s the opposite of science. And… Akio’s too strong to ever get back in your box. And he’s not alone in that.”

The President guffawed heartily, even as his wife rolled her eyes at his antics. He slapped me on the back, once more taking the opportunity to admire Christina in her fetching green gown. “Seems to me like she’s very keen on you, Akio! She’s a beautiful woman. You’re a lucky dog. Reminds me of myself, in the old days. Men of power and influence attract women. But I bet you have a lot of troubles too.”

“Troubles? You don’t know the half of it.” I agreed. “If I liked her, it’d be fine, but… her admiration is heavy.”

“I know.” Christina’s breathing deepened, her flush darkening. “You make plain your dislike. But… while I’m not a patient woman, not at all… I’m a persistent one. But… this all distracts from what matters.” With an effort she calmed her breathing. “Adam, we’ve tried it your way. And it isn’t working. Even in my brief stay in Japan, I’ve seen a number of things that convinced me we’ve been sorely mistaken. I wish… I wish I was born in Japan. Then I’d have been a part of this from the start!”

“Actually, you likely wouldn’t have been.” I shook my head. “At least not up until now anyway. At the start I was at least attempting…” I had to smile at that, and Hinata’s thoughts were amused and teasing. “…to keep a low profile.”

“Director, I’ll take your thoughts under advisement…” the President spoke up. “…but considering how you kept me in the dark, and that goes for all of you…” Christina was the only one who seemed unphased, giggling a little. Adam masked his anger, face expressionless, while Gina and Christopher looked somewhat guilty. “…you’ll forgive me for according you the same courtesy.” He was radiating vindictiveness. Turning to me, he nodded. “I’m a straight shooter, I tell it like it is, and I’m a businessman. So fire away.”

I nodded. “Firstly, yes, there won’t be any more Divine Favours. Which is why the waste of them has to stop. Adam… that footage from Korea, of my sister… it’s misrepresenting the situation. I saved that Favour from going to waste. Spiritual beings surpassing our power dwell beyond our knowledge… no, that’s for later. Anyway… you can’t just take a Favour and give it to just anyone. Compatibility is key. And it’s a real challenge for the more… esoteric Favours. So don’t worry that it’s a sudden race for stealing powers. That shouldn’t happen.”

“You expect me to believe that your sister just happened to be compatible then?” Adam pointed out, eyes narrowed, only for aid to come from a surprising place.

“It… makes sense.” Christoper spoke up hesitantly. “My Bethany and Zachary… they both have these powers. And… Christina here did her research.”

“Yes. At first I thought the odds discrete, a billion-to-one miracle for Chris here.” She chuckled. “But as my dataset and understanding grows, I realise that it seems sibling pairs are far from uncommon. South Korea was another such. It makes sense, when you think about it. I don’t know if genetics plays much of a role, or whether it’s… personality… but it isn’t a surprise to find out his sister is compatible if he is.”

“Yes. Aiko had a… well, a baseline capacity to accept it.” I nodded.

Adam however, seized on the point I wished to avoid. “Even so, individual powers have different requirements, yes? From our cataloguing of the Vermillion List, it’s easy to see patterns, though some may just be false positives. Your sister just happened to match with this one?”

“Actually, yes. She did.” I insisted. “She has an inherent aptitude for light element, and that was the key. With a little preparation, it was possible for her to accept it.”

“I see. Coincidence, huh?” the President muttered. “I have a question. Now that I’m actually getting reports…”

“And reading them…” Adelheid and I were probably the only two that heard Gina’s quiet muttering.

“…I received several from Japan this morning. You know, that school, Hanafubuki Private Academy, while it doesn’t accept children from newly wealthy families, or those of ordinary politicians, actors or the like… there are a few in the so-called Three-Hundred who are from families who have foreign interests and blood, Americans included. One of which, they run a famous brewery, with both a strong presence in Japan and also in America. Motoko Tsumura, and Natsumi Hori… your fiancées…” The President’s grin was knowing. “…I’m told they are also stunning, and Motoko’s family is highly influential. Good job. But… also, apparently they defeated the terrorists that attacked… some strange death-cult, so I hear. But… one of these ability users were there too. So… it is pure coincidence that two more of your fiancées have suddenly gained these powers, the Favours, as you call them?”

He’s not a fool. And when he senses a weakness, he attacks it, but… he’s wrong.

“I don’t think this is an appropriate topic for discussion…” Mr Hunter tried to interrupt, but the President shushed him.

“Gerard, this is very relevant. This isn’t Britain now.” He turned back to me. “So, care to explain?” He then paused, as my own smile was hard.

“Of course. But… you’re making faulty assumptions. Motoko and Natsumi… I’m so proud of them. They won… with their own power. They don’t have Favours.” Not yet, anyway.

“Then how?” the President asked, not entirely believing me, I wagered. “I know Chirurgery boosts the all-around performance of a person, but…”

“It’s what I was talking about, before Adam started complaining. We won’t see any more Favours, but… a Favour is just a pre-packaged way of making someone strong. Anything a Favour can do, it can be learned, trained. Me… my Favour doesn’t even work.” I admitted. “Not yet anyway. But… through hard training and experience, I’ve learned how to do things that rival a number of Favours.”

“Titan found that out the hard way.” Christina giggled. “Adam, Chris, Gina, Mr President. It doesn’t matter if Adam has his way and kills every Chosen in America, even the world. Eventually, humanity will adapt, our bodies acclimatising to the new power, ether. And with the wealth of spiritual beings out there… people will learn how to control it, and so… the genie is out of the lamp. Breaking the lamp or trying to kill the genie won’t stop this, only delay it at best, and weaken us all.”

“I have some advantages in knowledge and help, but… Motoko, Natsumi, they’ve worked hard. I still don’t know how they won, and thinking about it makes me sick, what happened if they were hurt…” I must have looked dreadful, as despite not understanding me, Adelheid reached out and patted my hand, even as she picked idly at her plate of dessert. “…but they are still ordinary humans, ordinary girls… what they can do, so can anyone with enough determination and the right opportunities.”

“And at the Tengokusentou too?” the President asked. “Kenji’s granddaughter… she was seen wielding a brilliant sword…”

“No, she… was compatible with another Favour.” I admitted.

“All right, tell me the truth.” The President eyed me seriously. “Can you make anyone suitable?”

I shook my head. “Not for a particular Favour. I’ve got a good sense of tweaks I can make if there’s one that anyone has a chance with, though. So… say it’s a one in a hundred thousand shot to be perfectly compatible, but then perhaps one in a thousand might be almost compatible. I can raise those odds a bit. So don’t expect me to be able to take and grant Favours to anyone. I’m just… a lot better at preventing waste. But that’s not my strength. What is… is helping those like Motoko and Natsumi to reach their true potential. Unfortunately… it seems the Church can do similar. So… we have to stop thinking of suppression, it’s futile and harmful. No, we need to think of management.”

“I’m jumping ahead to Akio’s third point…” Christina understood. She certainly was a genius, no question, even if her emotional range and maturity had been lost, subsumed within her brilliance. “…Chirurgery is welcome. Healing injury and disease beyond modern science, coupled with that… well, the wealthy will likely live long, full lives well into their second century.” She winked slyly at me, and I didn’t miss the gleam in the President’s eyes at that. “The new technology that combines our two worlds… it’ll be both profitable and essential. Who would give up their smartphone now? But imagine a smartphone five times more powerful, with a battery that lasts days on a single charge, even when heavily used? That’ll be reality soon. And that’s just scratching the surface…”

As she spoke she seemed to glow with excitement. “I myself have some ideas for technology that might be revolutionary. Maybe I can get a factory drilled next to the existing one… oh, never mind that… my point is… no more than the Aztec empire could stop the Conquistadors from sweeping them away, their horses giving them the edge… we can’t stop progress. But… the Favours, and those like Akio… they give us the chance to shape the changes. We can help decide how the world progresses. So… if we act foolishly from fear and from wanting to keep the status quo… we’ll be swept aside. Of course, Japan has sensibly decided to follow Akio.”

“Britain too.” Mr Hunter agreed. “Princess Eleanor and Mr Oshiro have established a solid alliance, and… we anticipate further closeness between them and our two nations. Whatever the rest of the world decides, we have our course set.”

“My second point…” I decided to drop the bombshell. “China. Do you know what’s going on there?” I asked. “The Church stayed away, yes?”

“We have reports.” Adam admitted. “Cultivators, if that can be believed.”

“It’s true. I’ve met one.” Christina nodded happily. “Even before the world changed, there were those that defied our understanding hiding, just out of sight. A shame. I suspect we wiped out  much of America’s native traditions of such when we colonised and mistreated the indigenous peoples. Though I suspect a few pockets remain hidden.”

“I mean, why the invasion?” I asked, and Gina frowned.

“Wasn’t that disgruntled, Japanese-hating outcasts who refused to accept the oversight of the Ruling Party?”

“That’s an oversimplification. In fact…” I took a deep breath. “Adam, what you dread is already here. So throwing away our only tools to defend against it through fear is idiotic. There’s a creature which has come from above… it shouldn’t be possible.”

“Yes. Adam, you have my reports on the compiled knowledge that was imparted to our American Chosen.” Christina agreed. “They anticipated we had decades, maybe even a century, before our world started coming to the notice of others. Instead… in less than a year there are…” She snapped her mouth shut, giving me a wry look of apology. You were going to say there’s ‘two’, right? Nope, keeping Tan a secret is important.

“Yes, the situation here on Earth is… irregular.” I agreed. “This creature is immensely powerful. We only defeated a portion of its strength. If we do nothing… well, I think it’s pulling the strings in China, it’s certainly controlling most of their Chosen by now. The Church, it’s similar.” Red Dragon and White Dragon. If the golden-eyed devourer is the Red, then the White mustn’t just be a threat to us but Earth as well, in a way… their powers… their goals… I imagine they want the Boundary down as soon as possible…

“But… if it’s a creature like that, it can’t affect us here…” Gina asked, and I shrugged.

“Sure it can. Not just by controlling and forcing Chosen to do its bidding, but… perhaps it could get someone to build it a Throne, or if it’s like Mae…” Shinkume-no-Hana, she needs Nie Ling to send her to the Material, but Mae, she’s capable of existing in whichever realm she pleases, when you reach such a strength… of course, she finds the Material rather low in ether and uncomfortable, but with her body the way it is, it’s bearable…

“…it can probably exist here, though…” There’s a thought. If it wants to monopolise the spoils of Earth, then it won’t want to collapse the Boundary yet, unlike the Church, which clearly desires higher attention, from their own Pantheon. Perhaps that’s our only saving grace, that and it seems hurt by us killing the clone. It buys us time…

“…with the strength is has, its League and abilities… I imagine even nuking it would be useless. And even if somehow you were able to brute force it, what will you do when more come? No, we stand together now, we make plans now, we prepare.”

“I see.” The President said at last. “That was enlightening. Now, you wanted compensation.”

“Yes. I’ve shared a lot of knowledge. Some benefits me if you know it, like about the Chinese threat. Others, well, I’ve disadvantaged myself a little. So…”

“Director. I’ll have the orders on your desk in an hour after dinner ends.” The President stated, his tone cool. “Cooperate. As for the Church… like I said, it’ll be a hard sell to a section of the American people, but…” He glanced at Mr Hunter. “…Gerard. Her Majesty and me, we’re on excellent terms, aren’t we?”

“I suppose you could put it like that.” he replied diplomatically.

“I expect I’ll be getting an invite to this… unprecedented… New Year Honours ceremony?”

“We don’t normally have foreign heads of state unless a key citizen of theirs is being honoured, but…”

It’s an ego thing. Hinata was observing triumphantly. All politicians love the limelight, want to be respected and admired, but… from what grandfather used to say, the current President takes that to extremes. We can use that.

“…I think we can make an exception this time. In light of our… cooperation against current threats worldwide.” Mr Hunter conceded.

“Great. Great!” The President clapped his hands. “I wouldn’t miss this for the world. It’s history in the making. I’m the one who’ll be there, a part of it. The voters will see I’m the man to guide us through this crisis. Anyway… what do you want now?” he asked me, as though everything was settled. Which in the end, I suppose it is.

“I need to know just what the American Chosen are capable of. Just like I’ve seconded a Hunter from Korea to Japan so we can use her ability for some experiments, if there are any American Chosen with a unique talent we need, it would be appreciated if we can borrow them. Of course, we’ll be sure to train them while they’re with us, so it’s a win for us both. This of course is secondary to what’s already been agreed.”

Adam glanced at Christina, who shrugged innocently. Yes, we already have the Vermillion List, but it doesn’t list all the American Chosen, being more focussed on ‘foreign threats’ and American Chosen who are not already in hand or who Adam considers risky. Zachary and Bethany aren’t listed…

“Yes, everything is prepared.” Adam conceded. “After this, those you wanted to meet are waiting, as is… the body of Egil Andersen.” He then frowned. “This is unfair though. Ability users are a national asset. Having access to knowledge of ours, while hiding your own… it’s like you know the secrets of our military deployment.”

“It comes down to trust.” I answered. “Your actions so far haven’t shown you to be trustworthy. Far from it, in fact. But… if you mend that reputation, follow through… our Ministry has a register of Chosen. If you can persuade our government to share that with you, be my guest. But… this is a deal, and I hold more of what you want. It’s only natural, supply and demand, right?”

“He’s got you there, Adam.” The President cackled. “I am curious about a few things, especially about… compatibility. But for now, I’m in a good mood, and we’re all busy.” He smiled at Adelheid. “At least someone properly appreciates our hospitality. I daresay we’ll have lots to talk about at New Year Honours. I know you’ll be busy, but… you can make time for me, I’m sure.”

I nodded. “Of course.”

“That’s settled then.” He clapped his hands. “I like talking to someone who knows how to do business. Once I’ve followed through, pushed those duffers in Congress into doing the right thing, and made a public address…”

We concluded our deal, and as the meal finished, there were more photographs taken. A car was prepared to take us to the facility, when Christopher came up and asked to speak to me in private. Surrounding us with a barrier to deaden the sound, we went to one corner.

“You play a dangerous game. Our President… he’s a mercurial man. But… you dangled enough juicy bait in front of him to get him thinking. How much of what you said was true?”

“Substantially, it was all true. Though the presentation was arranged just like your desserts.” I nodded at the mostly eaten confectionery. “Why?”

“In that case… Bethany and Zachary. I worry about them. Now more than ever. Can… can you help them?”

“What do you mean?” I asked, and he frowned uncomfortably.

“They… they’re on winter break right now. Can you take them back to Japan and make sure they know what to do? It seems staying out of trouble isn’t an option anymore. And Bethany was injured, so…”

“I see. In theory that’s not a problem.” I exchanged some thoughts with Hinata and Eri. Neither were opposed, since we needed to establish a Territory in America as well at some point for the Ring Gate network. If you can make one or both of them a Vassal, the benefits would be huge. As always, Hinata dreamed big.

“As for compensation… I’m not asking a lot. Just… support. Same as always.”

Christopher nodded. “I’ll… talk to them. Also… Adam’s not one to back down. He can’t refute your warnings, or go against the President directly, but… he’s dead set on managing this new paradigm ruthlessly.”

“Thanks.” I had that impression from him, as well as what Christina had told me. “I’ll be careful.”

As we separated, the President’s personal bodyguards came over, and I was taken deep inside the White House, to a place visitors seldom saw, where the President and his wife were waiting, ready for Chirurgery. As I passed the black-suited secret service agents, I couldn’t help but swallow nervously, despite the fact I was in no danger. Okay, I’m performing Chirurgery on the most powerful man in the world. If I somehow managed to screw it up… no, there’s no way I could now. Although… it hurts like hell. Here’s hoping he doesn’t carry a grudge…