Work Text:
The skies were fiery for several months, and the odor of the air was still far from the norm though the initial terror had subsided. Life under the New Republic that had the world in its grasp was not too different from usual, the main difference of the new government was mostly just who the citizens paid taxes to.
The United States was a mighty nation, seemingly impenetrable in its military defenses. It falling seemed an impossibility. It happened recently, actually. The government itself was silent. Since the takeover of terror, as the United Statians called it. The White House was vacant. Whatever happened to the president?
Elsewhere, in the middle of the blue expanse of the ocean rested an island. Upon the isle was a structure which seemed like a mundane stone building. It wasn't too odd except for the fact it's in the middle of a small island far from any other land. The building's rooms were mostly underground. There were many rooms across many floors, it was almost Daedalean with its presentation if one doesn't account for how well lit and sterile everything inside was.
It was black tile everywhere, but it smelled of citrus and the corners were well defined. It was a modern complex constructed recently. Most of the rooms were empty and served no real purpose, however there was a larger room with many people speaking.
“Our takeover of The States was successful?” A man said in disbelief.
“It shouldn't be surprising. We surpassed them in technology many years ago. Their million person military means nothing.” A female voice responded. “...but it's still such a huge mass of land. Typically delegating leaders to our new territory is an easy feat, but the last three men we assigned to lead this country gave up and quit in swift time.”
“...So THAT'S why we're reviving them! But how can we guarantee loyalty from that many men?” The man exclaimed before the rational part of him sank in.
“We can't. We can only allow one to lead.” The woman answers.
“How do we determine which man?” The man asks.
—————
Ninety eyes opened at once. Well, forty five men jolted awake in less than a second. The men varied a lot in their sizes and fashions and initial reaction to sudden consciousness. Some were confused, others were too stoic about it, and a few were fully angry about it. One man began to immediately swear and yell as soon as he began to feel again.
Through the initial confusion, a voice cut through, seemingly coming from nowhere, startling a good half of the men there.
“Welcome. Your genetics and memories have been brought upon the earth again for an important cause. The United States isn't as you know it anymore. It is now a territory of the New Republic. Your country is an anomaly.” The voice was that of a woman, a very monotone one. “Every one of our own men gave up swiftly upon trying to be a delegate over this territory. Our next move was desperate. We need a singular man who's familiar with the country to rule. All forty five of you have served as the chief executive of the United States before. We will decide on a singular one of you.”
Most of the men seemed uneasy. These men were all of the United States presidents throughout history. Clones, really, but clones with all of the false life memories to essentially be the real men.
“Gentlemen, we insist you relax.” The voice cuts through the murmuring, “The way we'll choose is simply through a series of games and challenges. Today is a simple game. I'll need four teams of eleven.”
A portly man raised his hand and spoke. “Whatever could be a reason for any of us to want to lead an America that could barely even be counted as an America?” Fillmore. Millard Fillmore. It was Millard Fillmore Speaking.
An even portlier man of a far more tangerine complexion nudged Fillmore. “Frankly, I believe any sort of power over any kind of America is sought after. The biggest and most sought after power, even. Many are saying this.” Donald Trump said as if the question was completely unreasonable. Yes, Donald Trump. The original was killed during the initial United States takeover.
A tall man with a beard stood, towering over everyone else. It was Abraham Lincoln, the sixteenth president of the United States! “Listen, everyone. May I gather your attention at this moment?” His voice was far from awe inspiring. It was a bit higher pitched and it took everyone a few seconds to realize who was talking. “It is a confusing time for many. However I believe myself familiar with confusing times. Perhaps it's best we go along with this spectral woman's instructions.” Abraham Lincoln continued.
Washington spoke up as well. “It seems to be in our best interest, as if she can speak without appearing, who knows what else she could be capable of. It is but a matter of survival really. We should assemble our teams of four now.”
As soon as Washington announced that the teams should form, many of the presidents immediately swarmed around the both of them, clamoring to be on either Washington or Lincoln's teams.
Washington was overwhelmed. He might have been a general but he was awful socially. He stuck with what was familiar. “Adams! You're with me!” He exclaimed, pointing out the rotund man.
The crowd wanting Washington calmed a bit, perhaps a bit mad Washington made such an obvious choice in teammates. This team was predictable. John Adams brought his son John Quincy Adams with him. Meaning the team had three members.
James Madison and James Monroe already seemed to be recruiting for their respective teams and Thomas Jefferson seemed to be talking with Andrew Jackson. There were no more familiar faces for the Washington-Adams-Adams team. They'd have to recruit an unfamiliar face.
Meanwhile, Jefferson initially wanted to join Washington, but today was a day when Jefferson didn't want to see Adams (2)’s face. Jackson admired Jefferson and didn't want to see Adams (6)’s face, who was on the same team. They agreed to be on the same team, and Martin Van Buren always orbited around Jackson, as vice presidents tend to do.
By Lincoln, chaos was erupting. Many men were clamoring for a shot at being on his team. It was very hard for Lincoln to distinguish the men at this point, but the complexion of one caught his eye. Lincoln at most hoped the freed men of the South could vote, that was the most he hoped for, but for one to become the president? Lincoln didn't know how to feel. Lincoln didn't like it, but he was curious about this man. Was this the end result of Reconstruction? Was Reconstruction truly that successful?
The man that caught Lincoln's eye was Barack Obama. One of the more modern presidents. When Lincoln and Obama made eye contact, the far younger man paused for a second in shock. “Uh, Yes! Mr. Lincoln! I do uh, highly admire you. I too helped the U.S. through war. I even killed an enemy of America and its civil liberties. You're a genuine inspiration. I'm Barack Obama, the forty fourth president of the United States of America.”
Lincoln asked. “What state are you from? Georgia? Alabama? Florida?”
“Hawaii.” Obama responded.
“Pardon?” Lincoln asked.
“I can explain it later if you allow me onto your team.” Obama said.
“You're permitted.” Lincoln sighed. Lincoln himself wasn't too sure he even wanted to be president again, especially considering that he already had two terms, but these men need leadership.
In another corner of the room, Dwight Eisenhower was gathering other famous war veterans like Zachary Taylor, Ulysses Grant, and Rutherford Hayes. That's a full team of four!
Being the most modern president, Donald Trump didn't have many people that knew him from his presidency. All of the other presidents that were alive at the time of his presidency hated his politics, he was a black sheep but then his eyes fell upon someone. His best friend ever Bill Clinton! Trump had so many fond memories with Clinton. All of those golfing trips… fond memories. For them, at least. Woodrow Wilson was also there. For some reason.
Trump and Clinton buddied up immediately and they somehow convinced Bush junior to join them... Perhaps because Senior's team was already full.
H. W. Was on a team with Ronald Reagan and Herbert Hoover. It was sort of a laissez-faire alliance. As for the fourth member? This man's presidency was marked as a massive failure for his cowardice and passiveness; it was a constant embarrassment for him as his passiveness really helped set the stage for a civil war. James Buchanan. James Buchanan decided he'd be assertive for once in his life and join a team because nobody else would willingly invite HIM.
The family members teamed up. Theodore Roosevelt reluctantly agreed to an alliance with his cousin, who was still paralyzed from the waist down despite being a genetic clone of the original Franklin Roosevelt. In a separate team, William Henry Harrison (free of pneumonia now!) joined with his grandson.
Another swiftly forming team was three Ohioans. Taft, Garfield, and Harding, and Coolidge stuck by Harding though he wasn't an Ohioan.
A rather thin and jowly man felt out of place here. He always felt out of place. No matter where Richard Milhous Nixon went, he was always kicked around. And then Nixon saw him. His rival and friend that was gone far too soon, John Fitzgerald Kennedy! But Kennedy just got absorbed into the team of Washington and the two Adamses. Perhaps one of the Adams men got happy to hear about another Bay Stater president.
Without Kennedy, where did Nixon go? His voice president Gerald R. Ford already was talking to a lot of other vice presidents. So Ford wasn't an option. Power was on the line though! Nixon would stop at nothing for more power.
Nixon approached the Roosevelts. “I, er…. I… I believe I could be a good asset. I'm certain my character and policies are very in line with yours, Theodore. I also established environmental protection acts. I care about the environment. Come on.” Theodore and Franklin exchanged glances.
“Certainly.” Franklin nods even though Nixon was talking to Theodore.
Franklin Roosevelt spots his vice president Harry S Truman and waves for his attention but… Truman was already absorbed into the Lincoln team, alongside Lyndon Baines Johnson.
The Ford team was mostly vice presidents. Gerald Ford, Millard Fillmore, Andrew Johnson, and a Jimmy Carter who joined before realizing Ford was there, but Carter wasn't going to quit!
James K. Polk forced himself into the Roosevelt and Nixon group and Pierce into the Jefferson and Jackson and Van Buren group.
James Madison and Monroe took on the stragglers. James Monroe had Joe Biden and Chester Arthur and William McKinley while Madison had Grover Cleveland, William Henry Harrison, and Benjamin Harrison.
“The teams have been formed!” The woman's voice cut through again. It spooked the older presidents that didn't know what a speaker was. It only made the horrifying voice worse.
“To review…”
“Team one has George Washington, John Adams, John Quincy Adams, and John Fitzgerald Kennedy.”
“Team two has Millard Fillmore, Andrew Johnson, Gerald Ford, and James Carter.”
“Team three has Woodrow Wilson, William Clinton, George Walker Bush, and Donald Trump.”
“Team four has Abraham Lincoln, Harry S Truman, Lyndon Baines Johnson, and Barack Obama.”
“Team five has James Garfield, William Taft, Warren Harding, and Calvin Coolidge.”
“Team six has James Buchanan, Herbert Hoover, Ronald Reagan, and George Herbert Walker Bush.”
“Team seven has Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson, Martin Van Buren, and Franklin Pierce.”
“Team eight has James Polk, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt, and Richard Nixon.”
“Team nine has Zachary Taylor, Ulysses Grant, Rutherford Hayes, and Dwight Eisenhower.”
“Team ten has James Monroe, Chester Arthur, William McKinley, and Joseph Biden Jr.”
“Team eleven has James Madison, William Harrison, Grover Cleveland, and Benjamin Harrison.”
There was one remaining. John Tyler.
“It appears as if there was one who couldn't get along.” The woman's voice cut through again. “You're out of the running, John Tyler.”
Tyler was embarrassed.
“Well–! Why would I want to watch over a nation that doesn't even uphold the values it once did? It ain't even sound like there's states anymore! I'm fine without it.” he retorted, his entire upper body was red. Tyler looked like he was going to rant more but he collapsed.
Tyler collapsed on the floor of the gigantic underground room that these men were in, these genetic clones of the United States presidents with their exact memories leading up to death.
It was chaos. Harrison (9, not 23) interrupted. “I did attend medical school before. I know what I'm doing. Stand back, everyone.”
They stood back as William Harrison checked for Tyler's pulse. “Tyler has passed. It's a sad day for everyone, I'm certain.”
John Tyler being known as the only president to support the Confederacy didn't make it a very solemn moment for ANYONE that lived during or after the Civil War.
Andrew Jackson cleared his throat. “So when we lose a competition or a game or whatever in the sam hill that lady just said, we die? So it's not about just power. It's about survival. And I'll be damned if I lose!” Andrew Jackson declared.
"... We'll all be damned if we lose..." Harry Truman mutters.