Part 17 of some new science fiction. If you're just tuning in, consider starting with part 1. The image above was created with stable diffusion.
Mainstream media ran the story that Pink had likely run away to escape the pressure of being a celebrity. Behind the scenes, the investigation into Pink's presumed kidnapping made little progress. Chicago police found the vehicle used to transport the Visitor, but it held no useful evidence. Ochre appeared unbothered by Pink's mysterious departure. She made dark comments about the harm Pink might be experiencing and even attempted clumsy jokes about it. James was more upset, but there was little he could do about the situation. They stayed in Chicago for three days just in case there was a break in the case, then proceeded to Detroit as scheduled.
In Detroit, they appeared on The Willie Wise Show, a podcast with five million listeners. Willie was an outspoken critic of everything. When the Objects landed on Earth, he'd initially called the event a globalist hoax. Now, even after all of this time, he maintained that the Visitors were somehow in cahoots with the Democrats.
"So what are we supposed to believe?" asked Willie after introductions. "That a member of a species light years ahead of humanity was somehow caught off guard and kidnapped right under the noses of our best law enforcement agents?"
"Didn't your authorities allow your infamous Jeffrey Epstein to die while in their custody?" asked Ochre. "I'd think Pink would be an easier target by comparison."
"You don't seem too broken up about his disappearance," said Willie.
"Why should I be?" asked Ochre. "He's found himself at the center of a grand drama. If anything, I'm a little envious."
"Envious?" asked Willie. "But what if he's being experimented on? Tortured?"
"We didn't take humanoid forms on a violent planet without a clear understanding of the risks," said Ochre. "I'm just wondering why the kidnappers chose him and not me."
"Interesting," said Willie. "On another topic, my listeners have been sending in questions they want me to ask. The most popular one involves your White House invitation. We've all been watching you snub our president. The question is why?"
"Not everyone in government wants the Visitors to go to Washington," said James.
"Your president is old and decrepit," said Ochre. "We find it very humorous that he's been appointed to such a high office. To us, this signals that the office itself isn't important."
"Appointed?" asked Willie. "As much as I hate the fact, he was elected by voters in a legal process."
"Our analysis indicates that he was appointed by insiders in advance of your elections," said Ochre. "These insiders then used their influence over the media to ensure that the vote produced the correct outcome. Surely you're aware of how your own system functions?"
"The picture you paint does seem sadly accurate," admitted Willie. "I've said a million times that our system is broken. The question is how do we fix it? Do you have an opinion on that?"
"Our cohort as a whole has no opinion on your politics," said Ochre. "My individual opinion is that your politics and the economy to which they're beholden are poorly matched with the needs of your population. A single centralized computer system would meet these needs more efficiently, and with less conflict."
"You want us to replace our political and economic systems with a computer system?" asked Willie.
"What I want is even more drama than we're already witnessing," said Ochre. "But if you want to meet your population's needs more effectively, a central computer system would be better, yes."
"What do you think about all of this, James?" asked Willie. "You've spent the most time with the Visitors. Do you get the sense that they want to replace our government with a computer?"
"Not really," said James. "They could probably do that if they wanted to, but they have other priorities. Like, they're playing human, just to see what that's like."
"So the revolution in North Korea isn't a harbinger of things to come?" asked Willie.
"My understanding is that that revolution was caused by a First Designer, not a Visitor," said James. "And I'm not sure it makes sense to compare our situation to that of North Korea."
"Right," said Willie. "So you don't have any plans, as a First Designer, to bring our system down?"
"Not really," said James. "I like First Designer Adina's approach better. She's the one from Kazakhstan, and she's been going nonstop, building bridges across nations."
"So you're a globalist?" asked Willie. "You must know how I feel about globalists."
"Honestly, I don't know what I am," said James. "What I do know is that our world is apparently just one of many. Which leaves our endless competition between nations looking pretty provincial."
"That's a good word," said Ochre. "You humans appear very provincial to us."
"So you would favor a one world government?" asked Willie.
"Only if it was run by George Soros and administered by the United Nations," joked James.
"Make fun all you want," said Willie. "My listeners know that the globalist threat is very real. But it sounds like you're saying that you simply don't care."
"Yes, that's accurate," said Ochre.
"Yeah, I totally don't care," said James.
"Well, I almost don't know what to say to that," said Willie. "Here you are, two of the most powerful beings in this country, and you act like politics are beneath you."
"Your politics are beneath me," said Ochre.
James shrugged, then used his Servant to materialize a person-sized rat wearing a suit and top hat.
"Holy cow," said Willie.
"Don't worry," said James. "It's made of cheesecake."
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