2099UG: Tomorrow Anew

The mag-lev glided silently over the tracks through the fog and cloud
cover that enveloped the area of Nueva York known as Uptown. From
inside the luxury craft a man watched solemnly through the smoked windows
that allowed him to view the outside world in privacy, leaving the
curious eyes of the outside world gazing into their own reflection.
Holding a corporate position came with many perks, one of which was
avoiding the terror of Alchemax's destruction while working abroad. {See
Spider-Man 2099 UG issues # 2 - 5!} He smiled to himself as the
transport slowly came to a halt.

Even through the thick skyline he could see the newly acquired tower.
The area surrounding it was illuminated in the light of the bold Kronos
Corporation symbol which slowly rotated around the building via
holographic projection. It was the same holograph technology, combined with
extensive net-gliding technology, that had soared Kronos Corp. into the
heights of corporate supremacy.   However, the hard part was keeping
hold of that power, and it had just become increasingly harder as several
ambitious corporations were moving in to pick up the pieces left in the
destruction of four global players. The Corporate Alliance, which had
served the country for decades was about to crumble, and the survival
of the elite was at stake.

Marko Ravonna was not about to lose what he had worked so hard to
obtain. Before the craft came to a complete stop, Ravonna lashed out and
pressed the release button that opened his door. He leapt out of the car
and briskly walked up to the front door. As the doors opened, his gaze
shifted to a large, golden man. He nodded and continued past him. The
golden man nodded to the security agents at the observation point and
followed behind Mr. Ravonna.

"Mr. Ravonna, we've been expecting you. How go our affairs in
Wakanda?"

Marko Ravonna stopped several feet short of the express shaft that
would deliver them to the comforts of executive privilege.

"Gideon, shall we move past the formalities?"

Gideon bit his tongue, took a deep breath, and moved toward the
elevator to enter the codes that would allow them access to Mr. Ravonna's
secondary office.

"You were in Wakanda, same as I was. We have more crucial domestic
problems facing us now."

"Have you been formally briefed, Mr. Ravonna?" {Check out the Origin of
the Panther in 2099 UG Unlimited for more on Marko and Gideon's
Wakandan adventure!}

Ravonna stared into the eyes of his employee, a loyal man who had long
served Kronos. "Gideon, you are my eyes and ears . . . you always have
been. I trust your instincts and intelligence more than statistics and
newsfeeds. What has been going on in this wretched city?"

"Chaos," Gideon said abruptly.

"Obviously," Marko laughed. "I don't know which I'd rather face again
. . . an alien invasion, or an African coup."

"Ah yes," Gideon responded. "The public has been thrown into an
outrage over the appearance of the being called Galactus. Did Kronos . . ."
{In the Coming of Galactus miniseries!}

"We had nothing to do with either his appearance or his disappearance,"
Marko interrupted.

"However, we must do something to regain control of this city . . .
this nation. The Alliance is on its deathbed, Gideon. It's up to Kronos
to provide a beacon of hope for the Corporate Alliance and create a new
elite. It is time for the Alliance to come together once
more."

Gideon opened his mouth as if to question his employer. Slowly, the
words formed and he asked the dreaded question. "Mr. Ravonna . . . do
you have that authority? It's practically unheard of . . . an adopted
member of the alliance may not call the founding members to the
table. It just isn't done. The Alliance will not stand for this."

"No, Gideon . . . Hikaru-Sama will not stand for it. However, once the
rest of the old-guard has been lured into the meeting, then
Stark-Fujikawa will follow.   Hikaru-Sama will be there if he hopes to keep hold
of the honor and nobility that he so boldly proclaims. He simply cannot
ignore it. The Corporate Alliance has lost four of its founding
members, Gideon . . . this is our time to move. This is our time to pounce.
Order must be restored, the power must be taken. If
not us . . . then who?"

The elevator signaled their arrival and Ravonna walked into his lofty
office with Gideon close behind him. He walked over to the large
window, using its holographic perimeters to shift the view to that of
Alchemax's ruins. He stared long and hard.

"The people have tasted freedom under Doom's reign, sir. They will not
go back to corporate service so easily."

"Then we shall give them freedom, Gideon. Everything has its price."

Gideon nodded and began to bring all lines of communication in
Ravonna's office to life. "Whom shall we contact first, sir?"

"Give me a secure line to Dietz at WestPac," Ravonna replied.   "The
old man is stubborn, and has been scorned by the likes of Alchemax and
Stark-Fujikawa for far too long. He'll be happy to finally earn some
recognition at the Alliance table. After him, they will all follow."

As Gideon's fingers gracefully entered the instructions to supply
Ravonna with a secure line to WestPac's headquarters in Portland, his boss
replaced the Nueva York skyline behind him with a holo-projection of his
home Wisconsin. No need for the others to know that this meeting had
been predetermined, and that he was already within the city.   Just as
Marko Ravonna turned away from the holographic projection, he did not
notice the digital shadow of an invisible
construction hovering in the pseudo-skyline. Though his connection to
Portland was secure and safe from observation, his conversation was not.

' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' '

ANGEL'S BREATH INC. -- WASHINGTON, D.C.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Edison Free scoffed. "Angel's Breath is operating just fine without the help of the Alliance. Who are you to decide that it's time to bring the coalition back to the table? Tyler Stone is the only person I know of who had the hardware to make such demands. And you're no Stone."

"Must I remind you Mr. Free, that both Alchemax and Tyler Stone are no
more?" Ravonna asked solemnly.

Free eyed the hologram before him carefully. "Are you threatening me,
Ravonna? Because if you are . . ."

"This is getting us nowhere, Mr. Free. Angel's Breath is in trouble
and you know it. I know that you didn't sanction the martial law that
SHIELD has placed over most of Virginia and its sister to the west.
Admit it, Edison," Ravonna said, his hologram leaning in as he did.
"SHIELD has gone rogue. The government is folding in on itself, and
your corporation cannot pull it back together without the help of the
coalition. Angel's Breath isn't the only corporation with problems,
Edison. We're all experiencing the fall out from Doom and now Galactus.
Our comrades have fallen . . . must we suffer the same fate before you
realize what must be done?"

"Have you talked to Hikaru-Sama about this?" Edison asked.

"No, I haven't . . . I'm going to contact him next."

"He's not going to like this, you know."

"None of us LIKE this," Marko Ravonna exclaimed. "But, it's what must
be done."

"I just don't know . . ." said as he was interrupted by a bizarre noise
coming from Ravonna's hologram. He stopped in mid-sentence and stared
intently at the image before him.

"What is it?" Marko asked impatiently. "Gideon, are we losing
transmission?"

"No, sir. There doesn't appear to be any error," a voice said out of
the holo-perimeter.

Suddenly, the image of Marko Ravonna, Director of Operations for the
Kronos Corporation, cracked and shimmered. Edison Free heard a silent
buzz for a split moment before he stood up from his chair. He turned
to a drawer to his right, and that was when he saw it. Out of the
corner of his eye a digital shadow passed through the hologram
representation of his reluctant alley. Quickly he tried to track the
holo-phantom, but the disturbance disappeared almost as suddenly as it appeared.

"What is the meaning of this, Ravonna!? If I don't agree with your
meeting are you just going to take me out!? Is that it?"

"What the shock are you talking about?" Ravonna asked with a
bewildered expression.

His look of confusion briskly turned into one of awe as he saw an
invisible force knock Edison Free back into the window of his office,
almost pushing him out of the hologram boundaries that projected Free's
image. Once again it appeared as if something struck him across the
mouth, for a trickle of blood formed on the edge of his lip. Then
he was knocked out of view, the blow accented by his wail of pain from
off screen.

"Shut it off," Ravonna screamed at his golden accomplice.

"What, sir?" Gideon asked confused.

"I said TURN IT OFF . . . CLOSE THE LINK, GIDEON!!!"

With one mighty stroke, Gideon wrapped his powerful hands around the
holo-mechanism and smashed it as if it were clay. "What's wrong, Mr.
Ravonna?"

"I can't believe this . . . Free was attacked by a holo-phantom . . .
an assassin . . ."

Gideon slowly started observing the room. "If there's anything here,
Mr. Ravonna, I'll take care of it."

"If there was anyone here, we'd be dead by now, Gideon. As long as we
don't have a link to Edison Free's office then there's no way that
digital ghost can make its way in here."

' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' '

"SOMEBODY HELP ME!!!!"

Three SHIELD agents burst through the large double doors of their CEO's
office with their weapons drawn. They had heard pieces of the
occasional heated dispute between their boss and Marko Ravonna, but they were not to interrupt the meeting for any reason. After all, Angel's Breath
had top-of-the-line security provided by one of their fellow coalition
members, Amerewest. Somehow someone, or something, had gotten to Edison Free and it was their duty to save him no matter what.

When they entered his overly large office there was nothing to be seen
save for Edison Free, the fearless man that he was, cowering in the
corner defending himself from thin air.

"Um . . . is there a problem, sir?"

"Of course there's a problem you freakin' mac! There's someone in here
with me. Use you're infrared or something . . . he's here to kill me!"

One of the agents hit the lights while another surveyed the room with
the goggles built into his helmet. However, there was no signature in
the room with the exception of their boss. Everything was silent until a
vase got knocked to the ground all by itself. Already on the edge,
one of the guards shot in that direction on impulse and just managed to
scrape their poltergeist friend. He managed to hold in the cry of pain
when the blast of energy seared the circuitry on his arm, but it caused
him to phase into reality for just a split second.

"Turn the lights back on, Wood! Infrared's not going to work, he's
using some kind of holo-technology."

The lights came back on and running along the wall adjacent to them was
the shadow of the digital man. They began blasting in that direction
in hopes of nailing him. He swiftly ran toward the large window
positioned behind Free's desk. Grabbing the overstuffed leather chair,
the electronic phantom launched it through the window.

"He's escaping through the window," Munch screamed over the destruction
and whine of energy blasts. "After him!"

The trio ran up to the window and stared down at the street below.
Standing behind them was their target, with his arm hidden beneath
Free's desktop. The blast had knocked out some of his circuits causing a
short that disabled the mechanism in his hand. As they leaned over the
edge of the window Mr. Free saw a floating hand gravitate toward one of
the SHIELD agents. With one hard shove the man was sent shrieking out
the window to his death.

The same visible hand had grabbed the man's blaster on his way out of
the window and before the agent's partner could respond he was shot
point blank in the chest. The floating blaster came to a halt in the face
of the third and final agent.

For the first time the phantom spoke. "Don't move and you might make
it out of here alive. You're going to escort me out of here."

"Don't do it, peon!"

Sweat began to gather upon the agent's brow. He flinched and tried to
ignore the pleas of his boss. "What do you want me to do?"

The invisible man paraded the agent out into the hall and forced him to
remove his SHIELD uniform. Afterward, a merciful blast to the temple
relieved the agent of his life. As the phantom attacker made his way
from the Washington, D.C. headquarters of Angel's Breath, no one
noticed that underneath the equipment there was no flesh. With the
exception of one lone hand, covered in circuitry and wires, there was no
one at all.

' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' '

STARK-FUJIKAWA TOWER -- Nueva York

Hikaru-Sama paid his guest little attention as he slowly trimmed the
branches of his bonsai. It was an outlet for aggression and helped him
focus his patience. And he knew that he was going to have to muster
all of the patience he possessed. After all, any news from Marko
Ravonna had to be bad news. He peered at the golden man standing
before him, staring at him through the branches of the bonsai. The only
sound in the large office was that of his clippers trimming the small
tree's branches.

*SNIP*

*SNIP*

Each time he cut off a branch it made Gideon want to scream out.
Finally, the infamous CEO of Stark-Fujikawa moved the distraction aside and
cleared his throat.

"Honorable guest, why have you come seeking audience with this one? Is
the questionable Mr. Ravonna above the use of his own technology?"

"As you may have heard," Gideon began, "there was an attempt on Edison
Free's life just a few short hours ago. We believe that the assassin
entered Free's office via holo-link. Mr. Ravonna did not view it secure
enough to rely upon in these dark times."

"And why have you requested this one's presence so late in the evening,
Mr. Gideon? Could it be that Mr. Ravonna's attempt on Edison Free was
a failure?"

Gideon frowned, his whole body showing his disapproval. "You dishonor
my master with your words, Hikaru. What gives you the right?"

Hikaru stood and walked out from beneath his desk, sliding his
fingertips across its smooth surface. "Because I know Mr. Ravonna," he said
through gritted teeth.

Gideon noted his change in tone and sentence structure. Mr. Sama was
losing his cool.

"And how do I know that you have not come to kill me?"

"Because you are still breathing, sir," Gideon said frankly.

"There have been many attempts on the lives of CEOs these past few
weeks, Mr. Gideon. Do you think that this one would be a victim so easily?
Not all kills come so readily."

"It appears that the lives of all the CEOs are in jeopardy right now.
Someone is against this meeting, but something has to be done," Gideon
offered.

"Meeting?" Hikaru inquired.

"Precisely why I'm here, sir. Mr. Ravonna would have come himself, but
he is presently under tight security. As I said, these are troubling
times and there have been many disturbing problems facing each of the
coalition members. Doom's invasion and subsequent fall at the
hands of Herod have left all of the corporations scrambling to find
stability."

"This one possesses enough stability for any ten corporations. Tell
your Mr. Ravonna that when you report back to him."

"Unfortunately, sir," Gideon interrupted as Hikaru-Sama turned his
back, "not all of the remaining coalition members are quite as confident as
yourself. Mr. Ravonna has called a meeting of the Corporate Alliance
so that these matters can be discussed. All
of them will be there regardless of your presence."

With lightening quick speed Hikaru snatched up the bonsai tree and
launched it into the side of the wall, sending debris flying in all
directions. He stood with his back to Gideon, his fists clenched. Slowly
he opened and closed them, losing some of the steam that had
caused him to lash out. He hadn't been acting like himself these past
few weeks. He should have been on top of the world after the fall of
Alchemax, but he too saw potential disaster on the horizon.

"Is that all, Mr. Gideon?"

"That would be the jest of it, sir. Obviously, I must tell you of the
specifics if you are to attend." He looked toward the dirt-stained
wall and continued. "Or perhaps I should make another appointment?"

"Transmit the details to me later. I must think before I make any
decisions concerning the Alliance . . . or our dear friend Mr.
Ravonna."

"As you wish, sir," Gideon responded.

He turned and found his own way to the door, leaving Hikaru-Sama to
himself. The corporate leader glided over toward a mat in the floor in
the corner of the room. Crossing his legs, he sat down and closed his
eyes tight against the world. His breathing became heavy and
deep as his muscles relaxed. Deep within meditation, Hikaru-Sama began
to judge the benefits of attending such a meeting. Despite being in a
dreamlike trance, a smile began to form on his lips.

' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' '

NEW ORLEANS FREE TRADE ZONE

The middle-aged woman's desktop was cluttered, though as impossible as
it seemed it was masterfully in order. Ever observant, she was well
known by her keen eye for detail. It was not very often that anything
slipped by her, and these skills were only growing stronger as she grew
older. She stopped working for a brief moment to run her hands through
her short, black hair. It showed the signs of aging, gray streaks were
left untouched, a testimony to a woman perfectly comfortable in this
stage of her life. She was just now beginning to reach the peak of her
career, and bright things were on the horizon.

She looked up in time to see a slight shimmer ripple across the wall.
Despite the darkness of her office, she could still make out the image
of a floating hand coming her way. Her eyes widened as she saw it come
her way . . . unsure of what to make of the apparition.

"Geist?" she asked aloud.

The hand before her began to grow and expand, displaying an entire arm
adorned in circuitry and hi-tech implants. The air around the digital
phantom appeared to melt as the image of a man slowly came into being.
Standing before her was Phace Anon, though most of the time he answered
only to the codename Poltergeist. Few knew his true name, though
she was one of them. Even fewer knew of his existence.

"You almost scared me," she continued. "Why didn't you come back via
holo-feed?"

"I had a run in with Free's SHIELD agents and experienced some
technical difficulties you could say. I couldn't transmute and enter the
holographic feeds."

"Techno babble," she laughed. She eyed her partner and then whispered.
"Something big is about to happen. We both know it.   What did you
see?"

"Well, while you were here gathering information and watching, I was
busy making things happen. Free was pretty reluctant to attend the
upcoming meeting, so I had to put some fear into him. With the problems
Angel's Breath was having all it took was for him to see that not only was
his job on the line . . . so was his life. He thinks that Ravonna was
the source of the attack and he'll go to the meeting to address that if
nothing else," Anon reported.

"And what about Spymaster? Was he successful . . . Is Hikaru . . . ?"

"There's no way to be sure, Daz. I realize it was a hard decision for
you to make with the past between you and Sama, but . . ."

"Stop it, Phace," she interrupted. "I had to do what I had to do.
When should we expect him? I'd like to know if it's the real Hikaru or not
before I go into that meeting."

"You'll have to keep on your toes. Spymaster won't report in because
there's always that slight chance that he could be revealed that way.
He likes to play it safe, so there's no way to know who made it out
alive . . . Spymaster or the esteemed Mr. Sama." {See Spider-Man 2099
UG # 6 for the details!}

She rolled her eyes at her friend's jab and responded. "You might call
it safe, but I call it careless. We should have never sent him . . .
we have no way of knowing whether he's alive or dead. Now I have to go
to New York not knowing if I have an ally or an enemy at the table."

"Play it safe and keep on the defensive . . . anyone could be an enemy.
Anyone."

"I think I have a plan that just might work. I've been gathering
information on Marko Ravonna and I think that he could be the
foundation for my bid"

"Sounds pretty solid."

"I've got more research to do before I go to this meeting, Phace. Go
take care of that arm . . . you don't do me any good visible," she
grinned.

"On my way, boss lady." He turned to leave and stopped, asking one
last question before he left. "Do you want me to attend this meeting with
you?"

"No, I think I have another project for you . . . I'll brief you before
I leave."

He nodded and left her to her work. As a premier information broker
she had access to things that other people could only dream about. Now,
everything was falling into place, but there was one wildcard in her
plan. She had to gather as much information as possible, and make a
strategy for the meeting of the Alliance. No doubt tempers would flare and
sides would be drawn. The question was who to side with . . . there
was no way of knowing whether to side with Hikaru-Sama, for it might be
Spymaster posing for him, or it might not. Therefore, she had
to rule him out.

Her instincts screamed to her, telling her the obvious choice. She sat
back and for the fifth time that night she began to read all the
information available for Kronos' Director of Operations.

"Mr. Marko Ravonna . . . "

' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' '

NUEVA YORK   KRONOS CORPORATION HEADQUARTERS

Even the soundproof walls of the main Kronos Corp. meeting room could
not contain the anxious conversation within. Seven of the most powerful
individuals in the world sat together at one table. Some of them were
excited about the promise of a more powerful Corporate Alliance while
others merely grumbled about Marko Ravonna's nerve. The veteran of the
meeting sat at the head of the table. However, Hikaru-Sama said
nothing.

Finally, the door quickly slid open revealing a large, golden man with
broad shoulders. He was wearing a business suit, but it did nothing to
dispel any belief that he was there for any reason other than
intimidation. Marko Ravonna soon followed after him, the electronic door
buzzing as it shut behind him. The room suddenly grew quiet as they awaited
Ravonna to take his seat at the other end of the table. However, he
stood before them prepared to take control of the meeting that he had so
skillfully developed.

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen," he said with a smile. "I am very
pleased that you all decided to attend. I now trust that you all have
great interest in reviving the power of this alliance and reclaiming
our position as the dominant political force in this country."

Edison Free had other ideas on where the meeting was going. He stood
up, slamming the table as he did so. "Ravonna, I am here for one reason
only . . . and that is to reveal you for the virus you are."

Gideon stared through the man, but did not make a move. However, the
look still managed to strike fear in the heart of Free. "Your henchman
over there isn't going to change what I have to say, Marko. So, back
off, Goldilocks . . . "

"Mr. Gideon has no intention of strong-arming anyone, Free. Everyone
here is entitled to his or her opinion. He is merely here for our
protection. As you know . . . a few of us here have already experienced
attempts on our life. All eight of us in one room would
provide ample opportunity for some madman to destroy the only force
powerful enough to take hold of this country once more," Ravonna
explained.

"Yeah . . . so I see. The only madman I see here is you, Ravonna! Mr.
Marko Ravonna here was afraid that I wouldn't be willing to participate
in this little tea party and decided that maybe
I'd change my mind if I stared death in the face. Well, I'm here,
Marko, and it's to make sure that you get yours! You hear me!?"

Hikaru-Sama sighed deeply and finally broke his silence. "Edison, will
you please be so kind as to take your seat and let Mr. Ravonna explain
why we are here. After all, it is quite irregular for a minor player
in the Alliance to call for a meeting."

"I'll tell you why he called us here . . . Alchemax is gone and Kronos
isn't happy with its share of the network! It's all just a plan to . . ."

"Edison," Ravonna snapped sharply. "Will you use your head for a
moment and stop your ridiculous babbling? Everyone here knows the state of
Angel's Breath. If I wanted you or your corporation to fall then all
I'd have to do is be patient! I wouldn't need to send a hitman after
you. Angel's Breath is on the brink of destruction, but I think we can
save it."

Edison Free slowly sat down, for it was obvious that Ravonna knew what
he was talking about. Angel's Breath wasn't the only corporation hurt
by recent events and they were all looking to regain the stability and
prosperity that they had once enjoyed.

"Please, continue, Mr. Ravonna. This should prove most . . .
entertaining," Hikaru offered.

Marko ignored the obvious insult and continued with his presentation.

"This country is in shambles. The people are in chaos. The stability
of this nation is in great question. It is time for the Corporate
Alliance to make itself strong again, people. It has been years since we
have all met in one room like this and I believe that is why we were
ripe for Doom's invasion. We were foolish to grant Anthony Herod the
power of the Reserves and he used it against us. {As seen in Doom 2099 #29
& # 32} We could do nothing against the fiasco that was Galactus. We
have set ourselves up and we are growing more powerless every day.
These are perilous times. We must stop fighting amongst ourselves and
come together once more so that we may rule this land."

"I agree," Dietz interjected. "We've lost four members of the
Corporation in the past year alone. That is just too incredible to believe.
We're losing our grip fast if you think about it."

"Exactly," Marko replied.

"What exactly are you suggesting?" Hikaru-Sama asked patiently.

"We need to reestablish control of the government so that we may all
prosper. We must dispel this threat that the new wave of heroes
represent. You see, it appears that the Second Heroic Age is upon us, and it
is a cancer that is quickly killing us off. The Nevada Syndicate,
D/Monix, Lotusland, and Alchemax," he said looking straight into the eyes
of Sama, "they have all fallen, and any one of us could be next. It is
time for us to regain control of the government and pull this fragmented nation back together. None of us can do it
alone."

Suddenly, Ravonna's momentum was interrupted by the electronic buzz of
the double doors behind him. Gideon's eyes narrowed as the figure of a
woman entered the room. She said nothing, though her applause unnerved
everyone. Marko's golden protector started toward the intruder, but
Mr. Ravonna held out his hand and stopped him. She slowly stopped
clapping her hands and folded her arms in a defiant gesture, smiling all the
while.

"I don't think I've had the pleasure," Ravonna said smoothly.

"No, I don't think you have," Hikaru-Sama coldly.

"Why, Hikaru," the stranger began, "you look . . . well."

Hikaru pushed his seat backward as he quickly stood and stalked toward
the newcomer, who stood side by side with Marko Ravonna. "Ravonna, I
don't know what you think you're doing, but bringing this . . . this
pirate in here was your last mistake."

Mr. Ravonna stepped forward and placed his hand upon Sama's chest.
"Slow down, friend. I'm more confused than you are . . . no treachery
here. Obviously, you two already know each other . . . so how about an
introduction?"

Hikaru-Sama took a deep breath and decided to play along. "Marko
Ravonna, it is my . . . honor . . . to introduce you to Madison Dazmary, a
former employee of Stark-Fujikawa. She made off with some of my best
intelligence officers and headed down to the New Orleans Free Trade Zone
in order to set up shop as an info-broker."

"A very successful info-broker, I might add," Dazmary said.

"Yes . . . keep in mind that it can be very dangerous business," Hikaru
spat.

"As I've heard," she said, casting a glance to Edison Free.

Marko Ravonna stared at her with wonder in his eyes. Every feeling in
his gut screamed at him to distrust the woman, to rid the meeting of
her. However, the obvious hatred between her and his nemesis was too
great a factor to ignore. Things were falling into place, and he couldn't
possibly turn his back on such a natural progression.

"Why exactly are you here?" he asked.

Dazmary walked inside the room, the door sliding shut behind her.
"Well, in my line of work I come across many things . . . your business is
my business. I have a wealth of information at my disposal, but I'm
tired of just watching. Sure, there may be profit in being the eyes and
ears of the world, but there's so much more to accomplish by being a
pair of hands."

"What are you getting at?" a female voice from the table asked.

"Aw, Cassandra Frost," Madison said carefully. "Nice to see RSI
represented so strongly at this very rare opportunity."

"How did you know my name?" Frost asked.

"Like I said, Miss Frost, it's my business to know everything. I can
be of so much more value to this world as a doer . . . not a watcher. I
have enough people to cover that angle, but something needs to be done.
The Alliance needs a face to present the public, and I'm in a
position to supply that image. This nation needs something to believe
in . . . not the heroes who have been giving you so much trouble, but
the government of their grandparents.

They need Uncle Sam and American pie . . . they need the Dream."

"And how exactly do you expect to do that?" Dietz asked.

"What does it matter?" Nathan Archer sighed.

Dietz looked toward the CEO of Amerewest Security, and his old friend,
and whispered, "What's wrong, Arch? You don't seem yourself."

"You are all wrong," he exclaimed standing up and marching toward the
doors. "It's too late to save anything . . . none of you know the
truth . . . none of you know that it's too late."

"Archer," Dietz cried after him as he left the room. His friend did
not reply.

The silence was eerie, but Dazmary saw an opportunity. "That's another
one down, people. How many of you have to crack before something is
done?"

Dietz swallowed hard, but said nothing.

Finally, Klayton Steele spoke up. As the oldest member of the
Alliance, and often the most quiet, the focus always turned toward him when he
shared his thoughts. "I think you had better tell us what you have in
mind, young lady. I might not be interested in all of these political
games, but chaos is never pleasant . . . and we're getting close."

"First, we have to reunite this nation. I want to take control of the
Reserve system and put it back where it belongs . . . in the hands of
the government."

"How did you know about the Reserves?" Helmut van Otteren asked.

"I know about more than just the Reserves, Otteren. I know about all
of BioChem's projects and the problems you've been facing with funding
and contracts. This new government has to make the corporations strong
before it can nurse the nation back to health."

Marko Ravonna nodded in agreement. "Yes, we have to make ourselves
strong before we focus on the nation. The Reserve system must crumble,
and I have some ideas for that. The Gammadion must be reclaimed, as well
as Downtown and other remote locations."

Dietz responded, "Yes, I wanted to discuss the Gammadion. I have some
ideas on how to reconquer those wastelands, but I need help."

"As we all do," Ravonna responded. "And I think we've found it."

"I still don't see how we're going to pull this off," Edison Free said.

"Do you still have control of the Congress?" Dazmary asked.

"Yes . . . well, the majority anyway."

"Then have them appoint the new president . . . make me your leader."

Everyone began to murmur, but it was Marko who was first to call order.
"I'd like to nominate Madison Dazmary as our candidate for president.
Her goals are our own, and I think that this is an alliance that will
help forge a new Corporate Coalition."

Dietz stood and nodded in agreement. "I second the motion."

"All those in favor?" Marko asked.

Everyone cheered in favor of the decision, even Free gave a reluctant
approval. However, Hikaru-Sama simply stared at the sight of Marko
Ravonna and Madison Dazmary standing side by side. Hatred began to swell
up within his chest and he turned away. All eyes were on him as
he slid back into his chair.

The man known only as Gideon focused all of his attention upon
Hikaru-Sama. He was too proud to elevate his ex-employee to such
status, his hatred too great. The odds of him agreeing with the rest of the
Coalition were almost nonexistent. The golden man reached
down into the depths of his soul and called upon an ability that few
knew he possessed. Hikaru-Sama's perception began to change, the odds
slowly began to tilt in Marko Ravonna's direction. Slowly Hikaru began to
move his mouth as if to speak, and finally he delivered.

"Greed brought you together, Marko . . . it shall also drive you apart.
I look forward to watching you both fail miserably, riding this world
of not one cancer but two. And after you both fall to the wayside, and
my ancestors tell me you will, I will be left to pick up the pieces.
I've seen my competitors fall, Ravonna, and I have no qualms watching
you two vultures join them."

Ravonna exhaled heavily and gave Hikaru-Sama a nod. Marko turned to
Madison and took her hand in a firm gesture. "Looks like a bright
beginning, Dazmary. It's time to begin anew."

She smiled at him and turned toward Hikaru-Sama. Their gaze never
wavered.

' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' '

EPILOGUE

"Good evening, ladies and gentleman. You are watching history in the
making. You are watching NYFAX. My name is Mirielle Radley and I'm
bringing you live updates on the state of our nation, on the state of the
United States government. Fragmented since the fall of Steve
Rogers and the Red House, the United States Congress has finally
reunited to nominate a new president to replace Angel's Breath CEO, Edison
Free, as acting decision maker here in Washington, D.C. In just a few
moments we will hear the first words from the new leader of the
free world, we will hear from President Madison Dazmary and it's coming
to you thanks to NYFAX broadcasting." {NYFAX went back online in
Spider-Man 2099 UG #6.}

"Cut," cried the producer from behind the scenes.

"I wonder how long this term will last?" Radley murmured as she turned
to a monitor to view her performance. It wasn't long before the
footage was replaced with that of a middle-aged woman approaching a podium,
upon which the presidential crest was adorned.

"Get ready to roll, people," Mirielle encouraged. "We're live in
twenty seconds."

"Citizens of the nation, people of freedom, people of the United
States. I have come to serve you, as so many have done in the past. I come
to you in a time of tragedy, in a time of need. This great country of
ours has suffered, and I intend to put a stop to it. We need to reunite,
for our strength is in our stability. The United States of America is
a machine, and it cannot operate without the proper maintenance or
without its parts. It is my pledge to you to reunite the people of America. To take the power back from the Reserve systems that have plagued this government's progress. To put justice back in the law and out of the hands of masked vigilantes."

"From the wastes of the Gammadion to the poverty of the Badlands, this
administration's influence will be felt. You will see your government
working for you, not against you. A bright future is on the horizon
for each of us, and it is my primary goal to obtain that future. Not
just for our children, but for each and every one of you . . . right now.
We must look to the present before we can move ahead . . . we must not
be blinded by the promises of tomorrow until we can make good on the
promises of today. With your help and your support we will
help rebuild today and forge tomorrow anew! May your gods bless you,
and good night."

"We're going to Mirielle in five . . ."

"Well, there you have it, folks. You have just witnessed the rebirth
of our federal government, lost to the rule of corporate America decades
ago. Only time will tell if we can place our trust in it this time
around or not, if we will not only hear freedom ring, but feel it as well.
This is Mirielle Radley for NYFAX. Stay tuned for more programming and
our special news event, DAZMARY: TOMORROW ANEW. Good night."