Inside Straight

And Rustbelt, looking more sure of himself now than he ever did during American Hero.

They are the real heroes now.

Rosa turns to leave. “Where are you going?” Jamal asks her.

“Home, baby. Like everyone else.” She nods toward the audience. Those who aren’t staring at the screen, openmouthed in admiration and wonder, are jamming the aisles, talking on cell phones, clearly thinking only about the events at the Hague.

Jamal searches for his parents. They, too, are rising from their seats, shaking their heads. All this work! All this time! And he was ready, not just to accept the money, but to be the American Hero.

He will. It is the role of his lifetime.

But no one will care.

Daniel Abraham Jonathan Hive

Give the wookie a medal

The Sri Lankan guy was short. He had a small frame and moustache that looked like an apology perched on his upper lip. His hair was close-cropped and thinning. Everyone else around the table was an ace—Fortune, Lohengrin, Drummer Boy, Curveball, Earth Witch, Holy Roller, Bubbles, Rustbelt, and of course Jonathan Hive himself. Ten people, only one of them a nat.

And yet, when United Nations Secretary-General Jayewardene spoke in his soft, thoughtful voice, it was his room. He owned it. He could have been an actor.

“The world, in its present condition, is not acceptable,” he said the way another man might have said we should paint the house. “You here are, I think, among the most aware of this fact. The injustices committed by Abdul the Idiot were outrageous and unacceptable, and I was as aware of them as each of you. Possibly more so. Like you, I tried to intervene. Unlike you, I failed.”

Jayewardene paused for a moment to let that sink in. Jonathan looked down at the table, suppressing a smile. It was hard not to be smug. Ever since they’d come to the Hague, they had been treated like celebrities, cheered and feted in a way that none of them had experienced since the first days of American Hero. Only it was different now. The half-hidden stares at restaurants, the strangers approaching them to ask for autographs or shake their hands. It all looked the same on the surface, but it felt different.

Because, Jonathan thought, this time it meant something. This time they maybe actually deserved it.

“The United Nations is, I firmly believe, a force of reform,” Jayewardene said. “The idea of universal human rights, of the dignity of life, and of the power of law and consensus cannot help but make the situation of the world community better. However, here, on my first assignment, I found myself playing the role of hostage.”

Jayewardene smiled gently and shrugged.

“I am not an ace,” he said. “I was, perhaps, overzealous. I have, however, learned from my error. I have been reminded that the organization I oversee is in essence powerless. I have been made to appear weak in the public eye, and appropriately so. I went to stop the genocide of Egypt, and the task was beyond me.”

Jayewardene’s gaze traveled around the table. Jonathan thought he knew what was coming.

“There are other atrocities in the world besides this one,” Jayewardene said. “There are dictators who traffic in slavery. There are governments who shelter terrorists and preach hatred. There are genocides. Many nations, even those that are members of the United Nations, ignore its decisions. And until now, my predecessors have relied upon the consensus of the governments of the world to take action. It has been a dull tool.”

“You said until now,” Fortune said, leaning forward. It was the important phrase. Jonathan noticed how much better Fortune was looking now that he and Sekhmet had agreed to let his body sleep from time to time.

Jayewardene smiled. Curveball and Earth Witch exchanged glances. Lohengrin’s chin was already sticking out about half a foot from his neck, and he was practically glowing with noble sentiment and pride. They all knew.

“I have called you all together to make a proposal,” Jayewardene said. “Through your actions, you have become symbols of something greater than yourselves. Men and women of the West and of the East, black and white, Arab and Christian and Jew, joining together to protect the defenseless.”

“Jew?” Jonathan said. “Who’s Jewish?”

Bubbles raised her hand. “My mother’s side,” she said. “They’re pretty secular, though.”

“Huh,” Jonathan said. “Well, who knew?”

“I would like you all to consider the good that you could still do,” Jayewardene said. “I have had a proposal drawn up for the creation of a special committee. The Committee on Extraordinary Interventions. It will function through my office, answering directly to the secretary general. And I wish to extend the invitation to each of you, in recognition of your service to humanity and to myself, to join as charter members.”