Epilogue: Mandelovia
Baron Zero stepped off of the platform to thunderous applause. It was another successful rally for the Left Hand movement, winning ever more followers to the cause within Mandelovia. Since the invasion by the Strikeforce, many within Mandelovia had begun to feel unsafe and threatened by outside forces. Zero played off of these fears like a master, gaining new converts at every rally.
As Zero walked backstage, he sat down in front of a monitor and turned it on. He removed his circular glasses and began to wipe his face down with a towel handed to him by his assistant. "Thank you, Paulo."
"Sit with me, we are about to witness history." Zero watched as images on the monitor screen began to take shape. General Colton D'Goon was on a stage of his own, delivering a speech of his own, denouncing the UN for invading Mandelovia, the US for being the US, and anyone else he had a grudge against at the moment.
"How long have we known each other, Paulo?" Zero asked, staring at the screen intently.
"Seven years, Baron." Paulo answered, curious as to what was so important. Paulo had been a soldier, a mercenary. Drifting without purpose until this person had come into his life, the guiding principles of the Left Hand movement filling him with new resolve: strength of will, triumph over adversity, the rightful rule of the strong.
But this new course, politics, Paulo was not comfortable with. He was a soldier, not a statesman. He felt out of his element. If the man called Baron Zero, felt out of place, however, he did not show it. "Seven years, a long time, eh?"
"A long time, as you say. I have fought beside you in many battles, Baron, but this political business, I am not comfortable with. It is not, my, what do they call it? Forte?"
"Paulo, we are on the cusp of the fruition of all those things I have set in motion over the last seven years, and even longer. Should we stay a small group, forever? On the run and hounded by authorities? No, Paulo, we must grow large and strong. Strong enough to exert our will upon the world, and face down those who would oppose us. Growth, however, requires change. And we must change to meet the needs of our new enterprise." Zero grew silent again, watching the screen intently, as if waiting for something. "Turn up the volume."
". . .announce my plan to bring forth a new defense against these metahuman lackeys of the US, this Strikeforce, and I want to make public, my first offer to the Vanguardians, who have already shown their willingness to aid the downtrodden Mandelovian peoples. . ." D'Goon was in full effect.
"Did he not already claim once that the Vanguards had defected to Mandelovia?" A confused look crossed Paulo's face.
"A small detail, Paulo, one that will be overlooked by most in regards to the larger picture. D'Goon knows this and will have a response waiting by the time the sheep attempt to use it against him."
Just then, a small, dark form darted out of the audience and jumped the stage, holding a small handgun he fired several shots into D'Goon's head and body, before taking the microphone and screaming "Mandelovia for Mandelovians! Death to traitors!" The man called Klaatu had just enough time to finish the second sentence before several armed Mandelovian guards fired upon him with their weapons killing him.
Paulo sat in front of the screen transfixed as chaos unfolded in front of him. Baron Zero smiled with cunning satisfaction. "I don't understand, Baron. There have been many attempts on D'Goon's life. How do we know this isn't a double, or that he is even really dead?"
"DNA tests will confirm that it is D'Goon and not one of his many doubles, such as that Agent Zeta. I have a friend who has a very peculiar talent. He has what some call the power of persuasion. Since I met D'Goon, he has spoken to him on the phone many times, including yesterday. D'Goon, strangely enough, forgot to wear the body armor he normally wore beneath his clothes. Klaatu, also, received a phone call yesterday. Tomorrow, D'Goon's will shall be discovered, naming me as his successor. Klaatu will be named as a sympathizer to the so called "Heritage" movement. Today is our day, Paulo. A new day dawning for the Left Hand and Mandelovia."
