Spoiler (Click to Show)
"I did. I wonder what's so important, that it forces CrazyJay to show himself for once." Jeremy replies to his long-time friend Gyodon, before ordering up another shot of whiskey.
[font]"Maybe it's got something to do with the[/font] economy rebuilding efforts." suggests Gyodon, full knowing that's a stretch. [/FONT]
[font]"I'm pretty sure TheSaw would be the one[/font] to update the public about something like that. He's the only one we ever really see." Jeremy says, receiving his shot glass. "Hey man, you know I drink this shit on the rocks."[/FONT]
[font]"Oh yeah, sorry Jer'" The bartender says[/font] pulling the glass back, as another patron enter the bar.[/FONT]
[font]"You guys hear abo-" Scarecrow starts be[/font]fore being interrupted by half the men sitting at the bar. [/FONT]
"Yes..."
[font]"Oh. Well aren't you guys just up to dat[/font]e on fucking everything." Scarecrow says waiving the bartender over.[/FONT]
[font]"How's it going Scarecrow? Any inside in[/font]fo on this announcement?" Gyodon asks, leaning back to see the former NTF take a seat on the opposite side of Jeremy. The New Tactics Force, or NTF, was the primary agency for resolving internal strife and conflicts within Stickpage, at least before it was disbanded during the economy reset. Many of their agents were former military, and had specialties ranging from urban warfare, intel gathering, interrogation, and computer hacking. Scarecrow worked more on the support side of things, ensuring the field agents had the information they needed, and played as their eyes and ears by hacking into security systems. [/FONT]
[font]"Inside info? Do I look like I still wor[/font]k for the fucking government?" Scarecrow replies gesturing his torn blue jeans and a typical black AC/DC t-shirt.[/FONT]
[font]"Alright, everybody shut up, it's time n[/font]ow. Let's see what the big news is." The bartender says walking past the three at the bar. He slides Scarecrow his usual Rum and Coke, before flipping on the TV and turning it to channel 3. The entire bar fell quiet.[/FONT]
[font]The screen flickered a few times upon st[/font]artup before displaying the news anchors sitting excited at the desk. The minor happenings scrolled across the bottom of the screen as the anchors spoke. “14 year old arrested for driving combine down freeway… habitual molester releases from prison next week… “ The news anchors spoke about the politics and analyzed the economy while they waited for the announcement to start. After just a few seconds they listened into their in-ear microphones before cutting out to the empty podium with the Stickpage flag displayed on the wall in the background. A tall man walked into view. He stood behind the podium and smiled at the people gathered in front of him. He was very well-kept, wore a nice suit, and held his head up high. [/FONT]
[font]"Who the fuck is this guy?" Gyodon asked[/font] waving an angry hand at the television. "I thought CrazyJay was going to speak!"[/FONT]
[font]After a short pause the man onscreen spe[/font]aks, "As I'm sure some of you have noticed, I am not CrazyJay. Not to worry though. TheSaw is here, and he will be speaking shortly. I, on the other hand, will be making some announcements here and now. I am Stone, the President of FluidAnims, and a strong long-time ally to Stickpage. I am here today, with your Vice-President, to announce what we believe to be mutually beneficial for both our countries. A merge, a union, a marriage. Our borders will be drawn off the maps, and our countries will become one. This will of course result in a change of federal laws to better suit both of our nations, and will also include a change in some political and government positions. Given time, we will strive together and Stickpage will again become one of the greater superpowers of the world."[/FONT]
[font]TheSaw stepped up to the podium beside S[/font]tone and added, "I realize this may seem odd at first to everybody. But I assure you, it is best for Stickpage. CrazyJay and I have gone over this with our friends from FluidAnims here for quite a while. I would ask of everybody to please treat our new citizens with the same respect and kindness you show each other." [/FONT]
[font]"Well... I didn't see that coming." Jere[/font]my says taking a drink from his glass.[/FONT]
[font]"So wait. FluidAnims is coming in and ch[/font]anging OUR laws to fit them better? Am I getting this right?" Gyodon asks turning to Jeremy for confirmation.[/FONT]
[font]"Yeah, that sounds about right. You know[/font], I don't mind them coming in here, but leave our shit alone, man." Jeremy explains, "We haven't even fully recovered from the reset yet."[/FONT]
[font]"I think it could help us quite a bit." [/font]A voice piped up from a table in the back of the bar, "Not sure how I feel about them taking office though."[/FONT]
[font]"Zed? What are you doing here?" Jeremy a[/font]sks, recognizing the voice from TV years ago.[/FONT]
[font]"This is my Friday pub. I drink here eve[/font]ry Friday." Zed replies, brandishing a half empty bottle of gin.[/FONT]
[font]"I thought I smelled an old washed-up po[/font]litician come in a while ago." Gyodon says turning on the barstool to face him, "Sounds like somebody's a little sour about their old position being handed over to these FAgs." [/FONT]
[font]"Hey, I'm no-" Zed begins, before being [/font]interrupted.[/FONT]
[font]"Oh no. Fuck that. FUCK that. This is OU[/font]R country. WE hold the power here, not these fucking immigrants." Gyodon yells, nearly knocking over his drink, "We should petition this shit! What do you think Jeremy?" Jeremy sat silent for a moment, clearly thinking something over. [/FONT]
[font]"I feel throwing a petition around would[/font]n't do much good about this, Gyodon." He finally says, rising from his seat. He places a few bills down next to his glass, and gathers his jacket, before signaling for Scarecrow and Gyodon to follow.[/FONT]
[font]"Where are you dragging us to now?" Scar[/font]ecrow questions, "I haven't even touched my drink yet."[/FONT]
[font]"We're going to my place, we have someth[/font]ing to discuss."[/FONT]
[font]Jeff knocks on the wall next to the open[/font] door of his boss' new office in the Stickpage capital building. Located on the fourteenth floor, the office provides a nice view of Stickpaeg, the capital city, and some of the neighboring cities and suburbs. There wasn't much of a countryside, some small patches here and there between suburbs that were used for farming. Most of the larger cities just blended into one another making it quite easy to enter another city without even noticing. "Looks like you've moved in pretty nicely." Jeff mentions, approaching the windows, "You have quite the view up here Mr. President." [/FONT]
[font]"Technically I'm no longer a president. [/font]You don't need to keep referring to me that way, Jeff." Stone insists, lifting himself from his chair and standing alongside his friend and subordinate, as he gazes out across the cities. "And yes, the view is pretty remarkable. But I'm sure you didn't come here just to tell me that. What's going on?"[/FONT]
[font]"Well, its been a couple days since you'[/font]ve made the big announcement." [/FONT]
[font]"Yeah, and? We already know about the fe[/font]w groups protesting the change. They will give up, and see the light in things soon enough. They shouldn't be anything to worry about." Stone assures him.[/FONT]
[font]"But there is one man, he's come to spea[/font]k to you about the change. I have him waiting in the hallway, I think you need to hear what he has to say."[/FONT]
[font]"Alright. Call him in." Stone says, turn[/font]ing away from the window. Standing behind his desk, he readies the intercom to call security, before sternly placing his hands down in front of him. [/FONT]
[font]Jeff briefly exits the room. Upon reentr[/font]y, he is accompanied by a sharply dressed man, who only takes a few steps into the office before stopping. [/FONT]
[font]"What can I do for you sir?" Stone inten[/font]tly asks the stranger, giving him a quick look over.[/FONT]
[font]"It's a pleasure to meet you sir, my nam[/font]e is Jeremy." He responds.[/FONT]
[font]"Nice to meet you Jeremy. You apparently[/font] already know who I am. I was told you had something to tell me?"[/FONT]
[font]"I do. I have here a list here of terms.[/font] Regarding the merge, and FluidAnims place in our society." Jeremy says, pulling a piece of paper from his pocket.[/FONT]
"What are these terms?"
[font]"Here." Jeremy hands the paper to Jeff, [/font]who in turn walks across the office to place it on Stone's desk. Stone pulls it to edge of the desk, before picking it up and unfolding it.[/FONT]
[font]"These are some pretty serious demands h[/font]ere Jeremy. Restricting government positions to original Stickpage civilians? Segregating our cultural influences from the rest of the country? I'm sorry, but none of this is going to happen."[/FONT]
[font]"It will happen. If you don't make it, w[/font]e will. We don't mind you coming into our country, but none of your officials will hold any power here. We'll see to anybody that does."[/FONT]
[font]"What it sounds like you're suggesting, [/font]would be an act of war. You look like a smart man Jeremy, I find it hard to believe you would do anything so brash." Stone says crumpling the paper up and tossing it into the trashcan at the side of his desk.[/FONT]
[font]"We're men of action. You have our terms[/font], and you know there will be consequences if they're not met. I think our business here is done." Jeremy says, still standing near the door.[/FONT]
[font]"Jeff, have this man escorted out of her[/font]e." Stone insists, nodding towards Jeremy. [/FONT]
[font]Jeff steps into the hall and calls a sec[/font]urity guard over. After patting Jeremy over the shoulder and leading him out of the office, the guard guides him down the hall, toward the elevators.[/FONT]
[font]"What do you think?" Jeff asks, stepping[/font] back into the office.[/FONT]
[font]"I think he's bluffing. There's nothing [/font]he can do to stop the merge." Stone assures him, turning back to the view of the cities.[/FONT]
[/spoiler]
[spoiler=Part 2]
Part 2
[font]Stone sits behind the stage setup in the[/font] middle of Park Central, waiting for TheSaw to call his name. Three gigantic screens set up on the back wall obstruct the public's view of the speakers getting prepared in the back, as well as give the crowd a better view of the current speaker. A week after the big announcement, Stone and TheSaw were finally announcing the first newly promoted public official, to serve as one of the main lawmakers. The assembly drew in a slightly larger crowd than they had anticipated, likely due to the recent rumors of FluidAnims taking or replacing most of the positions being opened. These rumors of course, were true. Jombo, chosen for his service as a police officer in FluidAnims, was being inducted into office today. Stone approached the new official, and handed him some cue cards to read when its his turn to speak. Stone will be introducing him as soon as TheSaw is done speaking and calls him up. [/FONT]
[font]"You'll be fine." Stone tells Jombo, pat[/font]ting him on the back. "Just keep to the cards until you've got some more speeches under your belt."[/FONT]
[font]"Thanks, I appreciate this promotion." J[/font]ombo says, skimming over the cards and mentally preparing himself for facing a large crowd for the first time.[/FONT]
[font]"Well I know you've served us well in th[/font]e past. I know you won't let us down here." Stone reassures him, just before he's called up to the stage.[/FONT]
[font]"Stone, you're up." His assistant yells [/font]from the side of the stage. Stone hops up the steps and around one of the tall speakers, to now face the mass of Stickpage citizens crowded in front of the stage. "Whoa, the crowd’s a lot bigger than it was when I peeked out earlier" he thought to himself as he made his way to the podium. [/FONT]
[font]"All yours, Stone." TheSaw says, handing[/font] him the microphone.[/FONT]
[font]"Thank you 'Saw." Stone nods, before tak[/font]ing his position behind the podium. "Hello again Stickpage. Today I will be introducing a man that has served us well on the streets of FluidAnims as a police officer. He has proved himself time and time again, and as a former cop, he has a lot of experience with laws, order, and justice. I believe he will make a fine addition to the panel of law advisers. Please everybody, give a big hand to the man we've come here for today, Jombo."[/FONT]
[font]Jombo nervously steps up onto the stage,[/font] and peers out across the crowd. Handing the microphone over to Jombo. Stone and TheSaw take position to the far left of the stage as Jombo approaches the podium. [/FONT]
[font]"So uh, hello everybody." Jombo flips th[/font]rough the cue cards trying to find the first one again. After finding it, he clears his throat, and begins reading. "I'm sure some of you are skeptical about outsiders running certain aspects of your country, but I assure you, you're in good hands. FluidAnims ran like a well oiled mach-" Jombo was cut off mid-sentence by a loud pop from the speakers, followed by the three large screens behind him going blank. After a few seconds, part of a music track started blasting through the speakers. "We're not gonna take it! No, we ain't gonna take it! We're not gonna take it, anymore!" Jombo turned to see the Stickpage flag now displayed on all three monitors behind him "...what the hell?" [/FONT]
[font]Stone yells to his assistant, "Fix this,[/font] shut the feed down!"[/FONT]
[font]"I did!" The assistant yells back, holdi[/font]ng up the laptop they were directing the feed from. "It's being controlled from somewhere else!"[/FONT]
[COLOR=#000000][font]The sound of an old misfiring V8 engine [/font]screamed over the music, from the far right of the stage. A large panel van roared through the park, kicking chunks of dirt and grass up from the rear tires. Old and rusted, the van swerves around a couple camera crewman, forcing the weight of the van to one side, almost to the point of tipping due to the worn suspension. The driver compensates, and slides the vehicle against the side of the stage. The impact shook the whole structure, knocking everybody on it off their feet. TheSaw falls against one of the speakers, catching himself from going over the edge. Jombo only makes it back up to one knee, before a man from the audience climbs onto the stage, shoves the security guard over the edge, and grabs Jombo from behind pressing a pistol to the side of his head. "Everybody stay back! Don't fucking move!" The man yells, his identity hidden by a pa