Eagle's Turmoil, Fox's Tears

1400 hours,

Near New York,

"Mister Yago…Mister Yagou!" a loud voice rang out, nudging him from his slumber. As Yagou's eyes fluttered open, he saw Hanki and Elara leaning over him, urgency etched on their faces.

"Yes, what happened?" he mumbled, stifling a yawn and rubbing his eyes, disoriented from being woken abruptly.

"Wyverns, they've surrounded our ship!" Elara exclaimed frantically, as a flock of wyverns converged on the aircraft.

"What? How? I thought we were safe?" Yagou exclaimed, rushing to a window to see the wyverns screeching and swooping toward the plane.

Seizing Elara's arm, Yagou pulled her to the other side of the plane for cover. Just as a wyvern was about to collide with the aircraft,

'Boom!' a noise echoed and it burst into a cloud of bloody red mist.

"Wow!" Hanki exclaimed, as each wyvern disintegrated one after another, while smaller, sword-like aircraft swiftly took positions on either side of their plane, serving as guards.

Yagou observed the spectacle in awe, completely captivated by the display of power until the captain's voice emerged over the aircraft's speakers.

"Forgive us for the sudden disruption; a group of Wyverns had strayed from their path. Please do not be alarmed, our escorts have addressed the situation. You can relax as we will shortly arrive at John F. Kennedy International Airport, where the weather is a pleasant 20 degrees. Thank you!"

The calming voice of the captain reassured the group, and they gradually settled back into their seats, the tension easing after the unexpected encounter.

As they neared American airspace, the twin F-35s escorting their aircraft peeled away, and the plane approached the runway at John F. Kennedy International Airport.

The denizens of the New World soon found themselves staring at the prime financial metropolis of Earth, a shining jewel of modernity showcased in all its glory as they slowly descended.

The entire group was wide-eyed as they beheld the city's incredible skyline, with massive glass towers that struck straight into the heavens, seeming to defy the gods, a literal manifestation of the Tower of Babel.

Yagou stood with his mouth agape, astonished by the sheer engineering it took to create such a city. A foggy memory from his dream lingered as he murmured, "I hope to whoever their god is that we never make enemies of them, for I know a city shows the spirit of a civilisation!"

Soon enough, the crew prepared for landing. Everyone promptly took their seats and fastened their seatbelts as the aircraft touched the runway, quickly decelerating to a complete stop.

Yagou quickly rose from his seat, followed by the rest, going down the plane's aisle and out of the aircraft.

Herds of reporters and journalists swarmed onto the tarmac, eager to catch a glimpse of the first 'aliens' on US soil, held back only by a thin line of policemen.

As Yagou descended, he felt like he had entered yet another world. While the Russians had seemed quite chaotic, it paled compared to the frenzy here. Hundreds of what seemed to be various news outlets surrounded them as if they were famed celebrities arriving for a visit.

"Mr. Yagou!" a cheerful voice called from the other side as a blonde man approached, his eyes alight with excitement.

Yagou quickly nodded and extended his hand in greeting, "My warmest greetings to you but, who might you be?"

"Ah, forgive me, I am Mitchell M. Dillon, liaison to the Office of New World Affairs," he replied, shaking Yagou's hand as he swiftly guided them to the convoy.

The rest of the delegation followed, boarding a black limousine bound for the Ritz-Carlton, where they would stay the night before they met with the President in Washington, D.C., the next day.

During the drive, Yagou marvelled at the sheer extravagance around him. Massive glass towers pierced the sky, defying all logic, while hundreds of thousands walked about in what could only be described as noble garments.

However, what struck him most was the casual demeanour of the people, as if such opulence was commonplace. Though incredibly advanced, the Russians still felt akin to the civilisations he knew. The Americans, in contrast, represented an entirely different realm of wealth and power, fitting for a nation reputed to be the richest and strongest in a world full of formidable nations most of which could individually take over all Civilization spheres with ease.

It truly shook him to his core to witness this opulence, and the memory of his dream did little to ease his unease. Any one of these powerful nations could so easily crush all their hopes and dreams. All he could do was pray that such a scenario would never come to pass.

While Yagou was lost in thought, Mitchell approached Nelson and whispered, "Hey, what are your thoughts on them?"

A bit taken aback, Nelson promptly replied, "Well, they don't seem like bad people from what I can tell. Their lack of technology is jarring, but nothing we can't handle. However, letting the Russians feed them their propaganda was a poor choice."

Mitchell's expression soured slightly as he rubbed his hands on his knee. "I understand where you're coming from, but considering the recent fiasco with the previous government and sanctions, we can't afford to strain relations, especially when none of our core allies are here except Japan."

"What about the Indians? They seem like reliable enough allies," Nelson asked awkwardly.

Mitchell shook his head. "No, that would be a poor choice. While we're closer to them than to the Chinese, the Indians don't fully trust us, and truth be told, neither do we, given their close ties with the Russians. The only reason we're allied is our common goal of containing China."

"I guess so. Let's see what we can do to sway them to our side. On that note, did you hear about the Kraken infestation in the Pacific?" Nelson asked, looking directly at Mitchell.

"Yeah, I heard. It seems we're not the only ones dealing with it. The five nations have created a joint task force to handle them. I also heard one of the missing cruise ships was attacked by them," Mitchell replied, taking out a cigarette as he rolled down the window.

"Yeah, with the transference and the crisis within the senate, god knows what holds in our future!" Nelson replied a bit sombre.

Mitchell nodded, and both sighed in unison as the convoy reached the hotel and came to a stop.

The New Worlders soon made their way inside, stepping onto the soil of a true superpower for the first time in their lives.

…

Yagou was once again, sat in his room holding a glass of American Whiskey, lost in thought. Americans were an entirely different breed of people than the Russians and from what he had heard so were the Chinese, Indians and Japanese, it truly was peculiar that countries so knit together could remain so distinct—one of the world's many mysteries.

A knock sounded at the door, pulling him from his contemplation.

"Please come in!" Yagou called out, setting his glass down and turning towards the door.

Surprisingly, Elara entered, supporting Hanki, who appeared somewhat tipsy.

"What happened? How did he get so drunk?" Yagou asked, surprised that someone had managed to get Hanki into such a state.

Elara, not strong enough to support him, finally let Hanki slump onto the bed. Tiredly, she explained, "He challenged some of the diplomats to a drinking game like a fool, and that's pretty much how he ended up like this!"

Yagou sighed and replied, "Alright, just let him lay there. I should have known this would happen; he can't handle alcohol despite his claims otherwise."

"Then why did he even challenge them?" she asked, confused by Hanki's behaviour.

Yagou stood up and ruffled her hair. "You're too young to understand, but sometimes, people like us need to do things like that to avoid seeming weak."

Elara pouted, pushing his hand away. "I don't get it. Why does he need to get drunk?" she asked, still not understanding.

Yagou smiled endearingly at her. "No need to worry about it. How do you like our new allies?"

She smiled and replied enthusiastically, "I love them! Sir Nelson was wonderful to talk to. He knows so much about everything. From what I hear, education in their world is crucial for a good living!"

Yagou's eyes lit up at her words. It wasn't uncommon for advanced nations to have education programs—recently, even the Parpladians had implemented mandatory education for nobility. However, learning that education was essential for the commoners to make a living was indeed a surprise.

"Hmm, good. Try to get to know them better since we'll work closely for the foreseeable future. Now, get to sleep. We have a big day ahead," Yagou said, grasping her arms and turning her towards the door.

"Awhh, really? So soon? I wanted to talk a bit longer!" she pleaded, her ears perking up slightly.

"Yes, really. Now go, and don't touch anything without asking me first!" Yagou said sternly.

"Okay, I'll leave then," Elara said, quickly making her way to her room, not wanting to test Yagou's patience.

As she left, Yagou glanced at Hanki, who was sleeping soundly and decided to let his thoughts marinate for the night.

…

Next Day,

1100 Hours,

United States Capitol,

It had been a weary few months since the transference event. The country had plunged into chaos, losing all its NATO assets and suffering a significant economic downturn due to the lack of trading partners. Fortunately, the presence of other nations prevented a serious crisis. The Chinese and Indian markets provided ample export opportunities, and Russian oil kept the US reserves untouched.

However, such overreliance was a double-edged sword, reminiscent of the previous trade war with China. If these new alliances ever turned sour, the consequences would be far graver than they had been on Earth.

But that was for the future to tell as the House of Representatives convened for their meeting on America's role in this New World.

Soon enough, House Speaker Mike Johnson arrived and convened the meeting.

"Gentlemen, please take your seats. We have much to discuss today!" he announced loudly as the congressmen took their seats, slowly settling in.

Within moments, the entire hall was calm as the commotion died down and everyone prepared for what could be the biggest turning point in American history since Pearl Harbor.

"It's been over three months since the Wall of Light changed everything. Thrown into the unknown, we were forced to ally with unsavoury elements. However, recent satellite launches by NASA have shown that this planet is teeming with life, far beyond our initial expectations. Thus, we stand at a pivotal moment, deciding the path our great nation will choose. Do we create a new, better world with our old foes, or do we establish a new order?" the speaker announced firmly.

In an instant, an elderly congressman from Texas stood up and shouted, "We need to isolate ourselves! America has become far too cosy with the Chinese and Russians, to the point where our government even passed up the chance to show the New World Delegation why they cannot be trusted. How can we call this anything but selling out our nation?"

A chorus of cheers and indignant shouts came out as others joined in with him, their distrust in the government's decisions quite apparent.

Within the chaos, a younger congressman from California stood up and announced, "Please be civil, gentlemen. While I understand your frustrations, we must remember that we are no longer on Earth. The only people we know are our old foes. Would you prefer aliens or at least someone human?"

Before he could continue, someone shouted, "Oh please, like you care about the people! All you care about is lining your pockets. You think we don't know what you've been up to!"

The room erupted in chaos, voices clashing as various congressmen attempted to make their points heard over the din. The younger congressman from California tried to regain control, "Gentlemen, those are personal matters. Please refrain from commenting on them as they are none of your business. Our focus should be on the delegation now!"

As they began quarrelling, a congressman from Florida shouted at the Texan one, "Like you're any better. There have been enough rumours about your involvement in unethical activities over the years."

Another voice cut through the noise, "Let's not lose sight of our goal. Whether or not we trust our old foes, we must ensure that America does not fall behind in these trying times."

The speaker, seeing the debate spiralling out of control, banged the gavel, "Order! Gentlemen, speak rationally. This is a crucial point in our history, and we cannot afford to let our emotions dictate our actions."

Hearing the speaker's words, the arguments died down as the congressmen calmed and took their seats.

Clearing his throat, the speaker began sternly, "As we all have heard, a delegation has arrived on US territory from Qua-Toyne, a newly discovered state on this planet. This marks a critical change in our policies regarding the New World. With NASA proving that nations in this world have some form of radio telecommunications, a bill titled the New World Market Control Act has been put forward. This bill plans to regulate the sale of advanced technology and information to any and all denizens of this planet, with the exception of the UN member states."

Murmurs filled the room instantly as many congressmen reacted to the bill, discussing its implications. This legislation was poised to transform what the New World represented to Americans as either a sign of hope or a dreadful nightmare.

Seeing the change in their demeanour, the speaker continued, "This bill aims to secure our technological advantage and ensure our nation's security. We cannot afford to share our advancements indiscriminately. The New World Market Control Act is crucial for maintaining our position and safeguarding our interests."

Congressman Lee S. Burrow from New York stood up glaring at the speaker, "But won't this hinder our diplomatic efforts? How do we balance control with cooperation?"

Another congressman from Ohio interjected, "We need to be cautious. Giving away our technology could lead to unforeseen consequences."

The room quickly descended into arguments about their role as a bastion of democracy or fearing a repeat of the War on Terrorism. The debates were heated until a sharp voice rang through the room, "What about the rest of the countries? What if they sell weapons and technology, and we end up looking like aloof, arrogant people who see them as inferior?"

The hall fell silent as the speaker met the questioner's gaze and replied resolutely, "We will only enact the bill if the other countries agree to join as signatories."

Murmurs of agreement rippled through the room, the tension easing slightly. A congressman from Illinois stood up, "We must ensure our newly acquired allies understand the importance of this regulation. We can't afford to act alone and risk our standing."

A congressman from Texas quickly nodded, "Agreed. Let's focus on efforts to bring everyone on board."

The speaker nodded, "Then let's begin drafting a unified proposal to present to our allies. We will start with a popular vote. Those in support, please press 'Yes'."

As the air tensed with anticipation, the voting began in nervous silence, with each congressman quietly discussing their stance.

After a tense 30 minutes, the voting concluded. The speaker, smiling slightly, announced, "With a majority vote of 380 out of 435, the bill has been passed to the Senate for approval!"

Applause ensued as the United States embraced its new role in a brand new world, filled with unknown dangers but also the promise of a fresh start. This moment held the dreams of what America once stood for, though only time would tell what would become of such a dream.

…

Unknown Location,

XXXX Hours,

A lady in a long, dull green gown with a slit revealing her legs walked down a dark, dreary hallway. Her heels echoed as a cadre of women followed her to a creaking door, which led into a bright white room filled with instruments seemingly designed for torture, centred around a single wooden chair.

Entering, she motioned for the women to exit and close the thick metal door behind them. She crouched in front of the chair holding a bloodied older Chinese man, his arms and legs tied and his face covered as he struggled to free himself.

She smirked and removed his gag, taking pleasure in his discomfort as he began to speak.

"Who are you? How dare you do this to me! Do you know who I am?" the man shouted, outraged. He had never imagined something like this could happen to a party member of his status.

The woman simply smiled and replied playfully, "Now, now, dear, don't get so riled up. You know full well why you are here, Mr. Zhao." She put pressure on one of his fingers, slowly folding it toward his arm.

Zhao's arm shot through with pain as she broke one of his fingers, causing him to shout in agony. "Ahhhhh! Stop! What are you doing? Who are you? What could I have done to offend you?"

She giggled, "Hehe, that doesn't seem fair now, does it? After all, we did so much for you to become part of the Politburo. So many years of shady work and people opposing you just disappearing, hmmm?"

She quickly broke another finger with ease.

Zhao was reaching his limits as the insane woman kept on breaking his fingers every few seconds and shouted, "Please stop, I'll tell you anything you need, just stop!"

The lady moved behind him, caressing his neck lightly, and whispered, "Well then, dear, how about you tell us what the General Secretary is up to? We know he's doing something, but many of our own have suddenly vanished."

Sweating profusely, Zhao feared for his life. He knew speaking a word would seal his fate, but that was the least of his worries. Whoever these people were, they clearly had a hand in his rise to power. Then, a sudden realisation struck him.

"No, no, no, no! It couldn't be. They were dead long before he became part of the Party. But the only ones who knew the depths he had sunk to gain power would be them, those children!"

Before he could speak a word, the woman removed his blindfold. As Zhao slowly opened his eyes after being shrouded in darkness for so long, he saw her pale skin glowing dully under the ceiling light, as if a moon fairy had come to earth.

But he knew better. She was no fairy. He recognised her scarred hands—scars he had caused, using them for his dirty work.

"You, you shouldn't be alive. What are you doing here? I thought all of you died back then. What happened, Luó Shuang?" Zhao shouted, his eyes wide with shock.

Luo Shuang's face instantly turned into a scowl, though still concealed by her fox mask, as she slapped his face and shouted, "Don't call me by that name, you filthy monster who used children to do his bidding. I am only known as She Zhenyao now!"

Zhao's shock deepened, perhaps with a pang of guilt. "She Zhenyao… so it really is you. But how? How did you survive? Why are you here?"

She Zhenyao leaned in close, her voice icy. "You thought you could erase us, but we're still here. Now, tell me everything about the General Secretary's plans."

Zhao's face contorted with a mix of fear and anger. "You don't understand. Telling you anything will get us both killed."

She Zhenyao's grip tightened on his collar. "I'm not asking, I'm demanding. Speak, or things will get much worse for you."

Looking at her he remembered what he had put those children through, perhaps it was his old age, but he felt that he needed to do something to at least put his heart at rest.

Zhao swallowed hard and breathed deeply, making up his mind. "Alright, alright. The General Secretary is planning a major move to consolidate power. Ever since we discovered the mineral, he's become extremely paranoid about anyone learning of its existence. It's become an obsession. He's targeting not just political rivals but even his allies—anyone he feels knows too much."

She Zhenyao's eyes narrowed. "Go on. We need details."

Zhao hesitated, then continued, "He's using covert operations to eliminate anyone he feels is threatening his goals. The Longwang revolt was his doing too. General Secretary Wu wants to keep everyone distracted to enact some kind of plan. I have no idea what that is or why. There are rumours he's been experiencing strange dreams and becoming more and more deranged ever since we arrived in this world, but that's all I've heard."

She Zhenyao leaned in closer, her eyes cold and unyielding, pointing a dagger at his neck. "That's not enough. Where is he conducting these operations? We need locations, names, anything that can help us stop him."

Zhao smiled lightly, having decided to give up his life already, and replied solemnly, "There's an aspiring young man called Kai Huang. He's part of the group studying the crystals. He will be able to help you, Luo."

She Zhenyao's eyes softened for a moment as she heard that name but she shook it off, removing the dagger from his neck. "Alright, that should be enough for now."

Glancing at his wrinkled face, there was little resemblance left of the stern man who once ordered her and her friends. The man she once admired, even when he used her as a tool, taking her, a homeless orphan from the slums of Beijing and giving her a home, a purpose however nefarious. Despite everything, it seemed she truly couldn't forget him.

Leaning close to Zhao's ear, she whispered, her eyes dropping slightly, "There was a time I would have given my all for you, but that me no longer exists, just as that you no longer lives. Goodbye and thank you for all you did for me."

Zhao smiled bitterly, his eyes slightly wet. "It's fine. I know what I did. If I had one regret, it would be not treating you and the children better back then. But it's too late for me now. Go on, Luo Shuang. It's time for you to move on."

Without sparing another glance, she walked away, not daring to look back, for she knew she wouldn't be able to hold back her tears.

As the door closed behind She Zhenyao, Zhao closed his eyes, feeling at peace for the first time in his long life, awaiting the inevitable.

…

TBC