Faint birdsong filled the air surrounding the large stone structure in the middle of the forest. Vegetation of all types had overtaken its cracked surface, giving it some much-needed camouflage. At the center of the structure, a metal hatch was visible - hinged from the inside and locked securely; no one would be breaking through without a great deal of trouble.

      Suddenly, a clicking noise was heard and the hinged metal door swung open. Slowly but surely, a tall man wearing black boots and a green jacket emerged, blinking in the blinding sunlight. His left hand comfortably rested on the long black sword strapped to his belt as he fully emerged from the structure, cautiously surveying his surroundings. He knew that the area had to be entirely safe before allowing President Aaron Knowles to exit the bunker. It was his duty to carry out all the President’s dirty work, and it was because of his unceasing obedience that he had earned the high rank of Colonel. This man’s name was Sheldon Banes.

      The dog tags dangling from Sheldon’s neck playfully clinked together as he moved to and fro before leaning back down and shouting into the entrance, “All clear!” 

      Two burly bodyguards dressed in formal blue uniforms stepped out of the bunker, clutching laser guns. They looked down at Sheldon with disdainful withering glares as he stepped back. One of the bodyguards extended his beefy hand down into the entrance, offering assistance to the man ascending the ladder inside...President Aaron Knowles.

      President Knowles took the bodyguard's hand, pulling himself out into the bright light of the morning with a solemn look on his face. He wore a silvery-gray vest overtop of a white shirt and a pair of freshly ironed black pants. On his head, he wore a black fedora hat, tipped downward to shield his sensitive eyes from the sunlight.  And in one of his gloved hands, he carried a large laser pistol. 

      Three more soldiers in blue uniforms emerged from the bunker’s entrance as well while President Knowles casually strolled down the nearby embankment, constantly eyeing his surroundings and keeping his pistol at the ready. Sheldon and the others followed along at a distance until he finally came to a stop, chuckling to himself. Sheldon approached him just as he spoke…

      “The world certainly seems to have been busy repairing itself after all the damage we dealt it,” the President sneered.

      Sheldon nodded. “Yes sir,” he replied. “Mother Nature certainly has her ways of bouncing back.”

      “It’s been nearly eighteen years since the Great Fall,” retorted the President. “Yet, we’re still hiding, Colonel. Why?”

      “You know what happened to the survivors, sir. They still roam these lands, scavenging for supplies and fighting to survive. The world is not safe!”

      The President took a threatening step towards Sheldon. “Then we will make it safe!”

      Despite his short stature, the President was not a man to be messed with. Sheldon resisted the urge to lose his cool and blatantly replied, “And how do you plan to do that?”

      The President grinned and pointed a finger at Sheldon. “You will.”

      “Me?” protested Sheldon.

      “Yes, of course. Start small. Take a couple of men and sweep the area. If you see anybody, kill them on sight! And slowly, but surely, we will wipe away the last living remnants of this old world.” As the President talked, his eyes roved the land around him that was now beginning to show life again for the first time in years. “Soon, every last living buffoon who’s struggling to survive on this earth will be put out of their misery.” A sick smile crept over his face and he draped a hand over Sheldon’s shoulder. “This is how we do it. This is how we bounce back.”

      Sheldon uncomfortably removed the President's hand from his shoulder and said, “Sir, what you are proposing will be no easy task!”

      “I know,” the President nodded. “And that’s why you’re the perfect man for the job. If we don’t make this world safe, it will never be safe.”

      Sheldon was losing his patience. “I see your point. But, in case you haven’t realized, everything about the old world is gone! You’re not even the President anymore! You’re just--” 

            President Knowles cocked his laser gun and pointed it right at Sheldon, silencing him. “Yes. Everything about the old world is gone. But I’m still here...and I know what I want.” The two of them glared at each other for a long moment before President Knowles spoke again, “Don’t test me, Sheldon,” he snarled. “Just do whatever I say and you’ll live.” And, with that, he delivered a powerful punch to Sheldon’s gut, knocking him to the ground! “My request is simple. Just get out there, sweep the area and kill anyone you see. My wife and I, heck, everybody here is tired of being kept up in that little bunker. I think we’d all like to get out there. So it’s in the best interest of everyone here that you do what you’re told.” Pausing for dramatic effect, he sneered down at Sheldon whose fierce blue eyes were hatefully glaring up at him. “Do I make myself clear?”

      “Yes,” rasped Sheldon, barely containing his rage. He knew that he couldn’t try anything - the President’s faithful bodyguards would be onto him in a moment. 

      “‘Yes’, what?” taunted the President.

      Sheldon gritted his teeth, barely finding himself spewing the words: “Yes, Mister President.”

      The President chuckled. “Nice. Now, get going!”

      Sheldon staggered to his feet, forcing himself to ignore the throbbing pain in his abdomen. “You!” he shouted, pointing to the three other soldiers standing nearby. “You three! Are your weapons set and ready?” They respectfully nodded. “Let’s go!” snarled Sheldon, shooting one last look at the President before marching off into the trees with the three soldiers close at his heels. 

      As President Knowles watched them leave, a cruel smile crossed his face and he couldn’t help but laugh.