"So now I'm--"
"A total cuck"
"Total?"
"Total. Cuck to the core."
A single tear slid down Steve's face, streaking the pockmarks on his chin, resting between his two layers of shirts
"Yes Mr President"
"Did he cry?"
"Like a choking dog, sir"
"Good. Good. Now, where am I again?"
"The White House, sir."
"Can I have pie?"
"All the pie in the world you want sir.
Donald thought to himself: I like pie a whole lot, I sure do.
"Bannon?"
"Yeah. He got cucked."
"Another agent exposed, boss."
"Don't worry, we've got more. Let me be clear: I always have more."
"Hail hydra, sir."
"Hail hydra, indeed."
Obama looked at his board and slid a pawn off the surface.
"Always more."
"You're clear, for now."
"Understood."
His hand shook as he hung up the phone.
For God's sake, this was supposed to be a few months on the trail. Some laughs. Now he was deep cover. Nodding along with this idiot. And Obama had him completely compromised. But Mother couldn't know his secret. Never.
She hated his white hair, though.
"Situation continues - MO"
"Understood. Everybody gets a car. Everybody. -O"
Jill had seen him like this before. Lean. Hungry. Eager. He didn't like being caged like this.
"You have to wait."
"God damn it Jilly."
"No," his son replied.
Mitt wasn't sure which son. But he loved him anyway.
"Bannon, out. Just like the rest."
"Sweet Jehoshaphat, my boy."
"Aren't you cold? Come into the light," Ryan offered.
"I like it here," he replied, "Where I thrive. Dark forces align against us."
"The Dems."
"Indeed, my boy."
"Tweeting?"
"Yes."
"The game is afoot then."
"As always. As always."
"I hate how sloppy an eater you are"
"Sorry sweetheart"
"Eat like Daddy does, God damn it."
Pence stood in silence, waiting for what always came after the daily report.
Her small hand created a loud crack as it slapped against his jowls.
"Yes, Mother"
"Do you ever miss it?"
"Some days. Not many," she replied.
She felt guilty. She never lied to him like this. But this was bigger than her, him, and everything before.
Oprah had made her swear a blood oath.
Yuri sighed to himself. Why couldn't Putin operate the damned DVD player himself. You can run Russia but can't master Sony?
He pressed play.
The room filled again with the sound of Trump's voice. Yuri hated this recording.
Vladimir loved it.
This had to be precise. It couldn't be haphazard or an afterthought.
"Lightning quick execution, the Harpo way," she thought.
"You can't just leave Mr President, millions are relying on you"
"But they're fucking idiots in trucker hats. Ivanka said so."
"They love you, sir."
Trump felt trapped, caged, terrified.
Melania allowed a small grin to emerge. She loved his pain.
The German pointed toward the narrow stone path between the bushes.
John Kerry pulled at the ends of his coat. The wind blew, intensely.
He hadn't been this excited in years, not since the protest days. It was astonishing what was being done.
So far, it had been hit or miss.
He missed it. The crowds. Barack. The fight.
"It hurts."
"Do you think poors are ever this happy?"
"No, my love. Some of them, perhaps when they dream. But then they wake up."
He moved across the floor of his Senate office, his bones making a slight hiss with each step. The bowl was full. His staffers were good boys and girls, always doing as told.
He put it to his lips, and the liquid burned its way down his throat.
"Good."
He grinded his teeth. He did this when he was nervous.
"Where can I find a corpse? At this hour," he mused to himself. "Dagnabit."
"I'm a babysitter. A bad one," he thought. It had been diaper changes and tantrums for months.
"Understood. It has to be done, so it'll get done. You have my word."
Mother hung up, using the other, secure phone that Pence didn't know existed. He could be so oblivious.
Mother would be happy to be done with the whole charade. Oprah was worth it.
A gushing river.
Finally, he asked, "What are you doing, dear?"
"William Jefferson Clinton, you have no imagination," she replied, smirking.
Obama nodded at the officer and dismissed him from the bunker. This was the biggest operation he had been involved in since Bin Laden. He was hopeful.
He was good at that.
He looked up to the figure sitting across from him and tried to read her stoic expression.
"This changes it all," Kerry said in a hoarse whisper.
"Who the fuck are you anymore, Marco? Why the hell did you even come here?"
He thought about the rallies, the debates.
"Jesus Christ, what have I done?"
"Boreddddd," he said to nobody in particular.
"I've made a decision," he shouted to Ann.
The phone clicked, and he could hear her perfectly timed breaths on the other end. She said nothing.
"Ivanka, I'm --"
"Bored. Jared, I'm sick of this."
"But it hurts my head so much."
"THIS IS FOR US. I TOLD YOU ITS FOR US. SO SUCK IT UP."
KellyAnne45: I miss our talks.
VladPutKrem: Same
KellyAnne45: When will it end
VladPutKrem: Stay on task. I believe in you.
KellyAnne45: It isn't the same, not like that summer
VladPutKrem: We always have the tower
KellyAnne45: Promise?
VladPutKrem: Pinky swear
Pence didn't really know where he was anymore. One local Republican club had morphed into another. The faces were all the same, frozen in time. He gave them the same dumb smile, knowing how phony it all was.
Obama had him in a vice, as did Putin.
"Just like that? But it's drug money."
"Nobody needs to know," Don Jr said, "Dad does this all the time. And we own the DEA now. Your wife likes pretty things, right?"
"This is good," she cooed, "real good."
"Happy to hear it ma'am"
"How are the boys in R+D dealing with it?"
"Several scenarios, nothing we can't handle."
"Good"
His face was flush with sweat as he dug up the dirt, and lamented not having any interns to help him in his ghoulish task.
"Mitch is so weird," he thought as he continued digging.
"Ivanka?"
"Hello Marco"
Involuntarily, the senator began breathing heavily. She did this to him, and she knew it.
"You can't just call me like this"
"Why not?"
"People will find out"
"Who cares? Daddy owns the CIA, Marco. It's all ours."
"Remember your training," the former Secretary of State told himself.
Getting this information back stateside was vital. And only John Forbes Kerry could do it. The others were dead.
The former general exhaled, silently, trying not to melt down with Trump. The walls were closing in. Got to keep it together.
"Its just not a good idea sir."
Trump punched him in his mouth.
"You're mine now," McConnell croaked. "Mine."
Bannon nodded, fully cucked.
"He looked AT me," she thought.
For months she had tried to get the president's attention. She was beginning to feel invisible. But now he had looked right at her. Maybe.
"Oprah's plan will work," she thought, "It has to."
Pence loosened his grip on Jared's shoulder. The boy was soft.
"Do you understand?"
"I think so"
"Don't 'think' boy. Do."
"Daddy Donald will be mad."
"Do you think I don't know that?"
"Yes sir"
"You do as told. This comes from high up."
"You mean?"
"Yes."
The body was fresh, and the formaldehyde splashed in his face, the liquid soaking into his widow's peak.
"I hope Mitch is right."
Oprah nodded in her direction as she directed her gaze across the room. Michelle Obama got a nod too.
Oprah put her hands together.
"I mean, maybe," the former President replied.
"Hillary's building shit in the garage"
"Michelle's been quiet lately. Too quiet."
"Somethings up, man."
"My God, Kellyanne. What the hell are you doing here?"
"You're sloppy, Marco. So damned sloppy."
"What do you mean?"
He nervously slicked his hair back.
"Ivanka."
He pulled back on the controls and the helicopter lurched from its spot in the grassy clearing.
This was not what he had signed up for. He was retired. Out of it. And yet, John Kerry was in the fight again.
"How's tricks?"
"You are filth. What you've done is filth."
"Dad says I'm number one killer"
"He would. Filth."
Vladimir replied with a dismissive wave. Yuri was always such a worrywart.
"The game will proceed. They all dance for me."
"What of the TV host?"
"The Oprah? She is of no concern. She is a woman, Yuri. We have dealt with the women."
"Sick," Bannon said.
"I'll have to sell the villa," he realized.
Don Jr had set him up. The cartel had struck. It was all gone.
Oprah pointed to her, giving her the floor.
"It's magnificent, Ope, it's so bold. But the downside is enormous."
"I understand. I'm asking you all to take a risk here. I get it."
"So you see--"
"Hillary is in."
Michelle raised an eyebrow. So did Mother.
"Hillary?"
Oprah nodded.
"Despite everything? Despite the incident?"
"She said it was in the past, so its in the past. It's time for us to unify."
Barbara held the prime pearl between her fingers.
"Okay."
Ivanka lazily put her hand in the water.
She felt nothing.
"Good," she whispered. "I don't want to."
It would be weak, she thought. Weak like Jared.
"Biden."
"It's John. We need to meet."
"Alpha or Omega?"
"Delta. Delata Six Seven Niner."
"Holy fuck, Kerry."
"Scramble the F-52s then, show them we mean business, they can't mock me this way."
"Those aren't real planes. Theyre from a video game."
"Why won't you let me do anything, Kelly? Reince would. Jesus."
He never had to see those stubby fingers again. Never had to be beaten like a pinata. He felt calm.
"Morning, Comey"
Obama liked to get the calls out of the way during his morning run.
"We've executed the protocol as you laid out. Ivanka is on the wire, but we believe she is completely in the dark."
"Perfect. That's great. Just great, Jim."
"Terrorist fist jab," she ruefully chuckled. "Damn 'em."
"Sweet Jesus, Mitt, they know about us"
"The Ivanka thing?"
"Yes"
"Holy Toledo with a squeeze of lemon. I told you: Be discreet."
"We tried... But I'm weak."
"Buck up, chum. We'll noodle this one through."
"So?"
"Putting this money through the cartel is a risk, Jr"
"Let it ride, father says"
"Thats why mom left"
"You hurt me, sis"
"Dont call me that"
"Jiminy Christmas, I just don't know"
It jiggled when he touched it, the gelatinous mass inside reacting to his index finger.
"Mitch sure has some wacky ideas. But if this beastly fellah helps him, why not me, huh? Worth a shot."
Hillary nodded in the affirmative over the video feed.
"Everyone? Even Michelle and Barbara?"
"Both of them. Mother too."
"I expected her. She's always been with us."
"My Prague contact said Kerry made it out."
"I'm glad. He's good people."
"Kerry escaped"
Cheney snarled, a small bubble forming on his lip
"Calm down, Jeb"
Barbara continued to fiddle with her pearls, it was a nervous tic she'd picked up in George's term.
"There are some... things coming, Jeb. And I want you to move your money into the gold bars. Just in case."
"Yes, mother."
Jared's cutlery clinked against the crystal glass, half filled with water.
He was in a cold sweat.
"What?"
"Sorry, love. I may have the sniffles."
"Ew."
On the phone, Vladimir was muttering.
"Shh," she instructed him.
"What, my rose?"
"I caught Marco. Photos and all."
"Jesus Christ my man"
"Indeed, friend. I have seen some shit."
"Bet you have. Bet you have. C'mon, I got some beers and brats on the grill. Unload."
Paul Ryan held his chin, then read the incantation. This all felt strange and uncomfortable. "Here goes."
He swallowed the cube of body meat, whole.
He repeated the unholy words.
He closed his eyes and held them shut.
Across town, Mitch stirred.
In response, they saluted.
She strapped on her leather gloves, ready to work.
"Have to buy a new one," she thought, turning to the exit.
He considered alerting Putin.
"Better not, he'll bite my head off," he decided.
Gasses bubbled. A cat howled. His skin grew warm.
A spiderweb-shaped red pattern began to emerge at the base of his neck. It crawled up, covering his mouth, tugging at his lips.
He could see. Mitch.
He put an arm around Rubio.
"We'll get you squared away, chum. We've got tricks those she-devils don't know"
Rubio gulped.
"Wowsers, Mitt," he replied.
Mitch sat in the cool, dark as always.
The hairs on his neck stood up.
"Ryan."
Kerry's eyes widened.
Biden grinned.
"That's right you sonofabitch. Barack loaded me up. The best shit."
"This is the real deal, friend"
Biden guffawed and slapped his shoulders
"Dear. Headed out?"
"Doing some shopping"
"Have fun"
She gave him a slight nod and continued on. She felt the weight of the switchblade in her coat pocket.
If he doesn't want to see, he won't.
"What do you mean the money is gone?"
"It... is"
"But my things, my precious things"
"The cartel won't take no for an answer, Louise"
He wasn't sure what was real and what was imaginary.
Laura turned into a dragon.
Bring 'er on.
Oprah or death was his creed.
"Justin. It's Obama."
"Barack! So good to hear from you."
"Same. Look, Biden is off grid again. My operation needs some eyes in the air."
"It's yours," he said, slathering on the poutine.
It felt like old days, before the change.
"There's no reason to buy so much ammunition. We just need a few feet of rope to make enough garrotes to wipe out the Duhane Cartel's operation. I've run the numbers."
The cocaine baron was impressed.
He tried to memorize all of it - he couldn't leave a paper trail of course - but he worried about forgetting a step.
His hands shook.
That was a simpler time. You just wound up idiot George and he would go. Now, Cheney had to get his hands dirty. If you wanted a South American revolution you had to do it yourself.
Everything was in a red haze. He felt separated from his body, like he was watching a film back at the movie house in Janesville.
"I can taste the colors," he realized.
How did Mitch live like this?
"No, John, this joker's got to see what a bunch of malarkey this is for fuck's sake"
Biden tightened his grip on the ivory handle of his blade, nicknamed M'Lady, and twisted it wickedly.
The man screamed in agony.
Kerry wondered if they'd crossed a line.
"Melania, dear, I understand. And I know how hard this has been, but you must gather more evidence for The Brotherhood."
"You promised safe passage for me and my boy"
"I still do"
But these men -- boys really -- like Marco and Jared, they were so soft.
"Phooey," Mitt thought.
The sound of gunfire was deafening.
All of their past tension, strife, disagreement was gone, replaced with a harmonious ballet of righteous violence.
Mitch, his rider, squeezed his bony knees against him, prodding him to run faster.
"Make haste, boy"
He watched his brother scratch against the walls.
He had gone feral again, and needed feeding.
"Yes," she replied, "my spirit soars."
They watched together as the satellite feeds showed multiple scenes of extreme violence, done in her name.
"More wine?"
This was.
She leapt from the tree.
Her kitana blade shone in the moonlight.
Her prey's death was quick.
She sat in her leather command chair, it's sweet musk reminding her of life on Papa's farm.
Fritz couldn't understand all of it. He saw the pieces, but it was bewildering. Angela understood. She stroked her chin.
"I'm such an idiot." Obama said to nobody in particular. "Right under my nose. In my own bed. And I was completely clueless."
She was still in her silk pajamas, assembled by a host of 10 year olds the day she visited the factory in China.
Trump didn't understand any of what they were saying, but she was mad.
Involuntarily, he began to lick his lips. He was nervous. He felt like it was Chris Christie mocking him again.
"Sport, I need you present," Mitt said, "Your first kill is always your hardest."
John Kelly stared at the floor.
"Oprah is a black," Ivanka continued, trying to comprehend it.