Accountability
Theresa’s house - February 18, 2020, 9:00 PM
“What is happening in this country is unprecedented,” Bysandros said, “Terrorists assassinated Prince Georg and his family last week, and already the Diet is more focused on Russian subsidies than hunting those responsible. The EF isn’t doing anything. They’re too focused eradicating local cultures in the name of continental stability. And what about the UN? Same thing. The Merkel administration is still deadlocked. When will Merkel learn her actions have consequences?”
Vincent turned off the TV.
“Why do you even watch that?” Theresa said, looking up from her article.
“Want to get a balanced view,” Vincent said, “You know, see both sides of the argument.”
“Both sides?” Theresa said.
“Come on, Theresa, you know how things are,” Vincent said, “Everything’s so polarized these days I need to see every issue from each viewpoint.”
“A Schmitz channel isn’t a good viewpoint,” Theresa said, “And sometimes there’s only one side to an argument.”
“Theresa, there’s always two sides to an argument,” Vincent said.
“So does climate change exist?” Theresa said. “Does gravity exist?”
“Well, uh…” Vincent said. “Wait, that’s a different case.”
“False equivalences are as bad as being biased,” Theresa said, “We’re reporters. We should know better than to draw false equivalences.”
“What’s wrong with consulting Schmitz?” Vincent said. “We need to see what they talk about and see how they approach the issues.”
“Even if their arguments are founded in falsehoods?” Theresa said.
“We’ll call them out then,” Vincent said.
“They’ll call us partisan hacks,” Theresa said, “They’re already calling me a hack because I pointed out how convenient it was for Georg to die right around the time Wilhelm Karl sought public approval to overturn the refugee law. A law Georg supported and the Kaiser opposed.”
“You’re not saying he had own his brother killed, are you?” Vincent said.
“If the facts point to that conclusion, then yes,” Theresa said.
“That’s crazy,” Vincent said, “It would be a massive scandal.”
“And yet nobody would do anything about it,” Theresa said, “Because he’s the Kaiser.”
“Don’t worry, Theresa, okay?” Vincent said. “We’ll hold him accountable, like everyone else.”
“Somehow, I doubt that,” Theresa said.
Brandenburg Palace - March 8, 3:00 PM
Wilhelm Karl adjusted his uniform and looked at the medal on the table.
“Let me get this straight,” he said, “I’m awarding this medal to Theresa Novak.”
“Yes,” Heinrich said.
“What did she do this time?” Wilhelm Karl said.
“She exposed a ring of Mongol bots working together to push right-wing propaganda, particularly in the eastern provinces,” Heinrich said.
“How’d she do it?” Wilhelm Karl said.
“Well, it says here…” Heinrich said, pulling up the article on his phone. “She noticed a pattern of fake profiles spreading propaganda on Dikastirio, TiEfarmo, and other social networks.”
“Were the bots state sanctioned?” Wilhelm Karl said.
“Hard to determine who,” Heinrich said, “But the evidence points to someone.”
“Let me see that,” Wilhelm Karl said, taking the phone.
He scrolled down and searched for other articles on Theresa, not by her. Soon, he found what he was looking for.
“Did you know she’s a drug addict now?” Wilhelm Karl said. “Among other things.”
“I didn’t know,” Heinrich said.
“It’s all here,” Wilhelm Karl said, “Read it.”
Heinrich read the articles. “That’s…terrible. Why would she do that?”
“I know, right?” Wilhelm Karl said. “You know, I don’t think should be giving a medal to someone like that.”
“Agreed,” Heinrich said.
“Call my spokesman,” Wilhelm Karl said, “Put out a statement saying the ceremony’s off.”
“What explanation should I give them?” Heinrich said.
“They don’t deserve one,” Wilhelm Karl said.
He tossed the medal in the trash.
Outside Brandenburg Palace - 3:30 PM
“WHAT THE FRAK DO YOU MEAN IT WAS CANCELED?!” Theresa shouted.
“I’m sorry, ma’am, but you do not have the credentials to enter the palace,” Justin said.
“Captain Wasserman, do you have any idea how much I spent on a flight up here?” Theresa said. “Not to mention getting everything in order so I could have one day off? And you’re telling me the ceremony was canceled just half an hour ago?! On International Women’s Day of all days?!”
“I’m sorry, but I have my orders,” Justin said.
“At least give me an explanation why,” Theresa said, “Did the Kaiser not like my article about Mongol bot factories?”
“I was told otherwise,” Justin said.
“What were you told?” Theresa said.
“You were a drug addict who solicited ‘favors’ from children in exchange for favorable news coverage and exclusive scoops,” Justin said, “Also that you made stuff up.”
“Drug addict?” Theresa said. “Child predator?! Favors exchanged?! You’re serious. I do none of those.”
“Well, it’s going viral online,” Justin said, “Think it goes #junkienovak?”
“This is defamation,” Theresa said, “A hit on me for exposing that bot network. They’ve targeted me now. ARGH!”
She kicked the curb.
“The Kaiser really believes those lies?!” she said. “How much of an idiot is he?”
“I can’t comment on that,” Justin said, “Now can you please leave before I call more security? Also, I should warn against shooting up in front of me. The Kaiser decreed the palace and everything within a thirty feet radius is a drug-free zone.”
Theresa stormed away from the entrance and got back in her car.
“So…I take it the ceremony’s not happening?” Vincent said.
“WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?!” Theresa said.
Inside Brandenburg Palace
Elias looked out the window and watched Theresa drive away.
“She gone?” Wilhelm Karl said.
“Just left,” Elias said.
“I’d like to thank you for what you and your friends did,” Wilhelm Karl said.
“It was nothing,” Elias said, “Just give some bitcoins to the right people on the dark web, and let the memes and rumors go viral. Easy as that.”
Alex’s house - March 16, 4:00 PM
Alex entered the house and put down his backpack.
“Mom, I’m home!” he said.
There was no response.
“Mom?” he said.
Still no response.
“Dad, you there?” Alex said.
Nobody answered.
“This isn’t funny!” Alex said.
Maybe they were still at work. Alex took out his phone and dialed his mom’s number.
“Not now, Alex, I’m busy,” Diana whispered.
“Mom?” Alex said. “What’s going on?”
“I’m in a meeting right now,” Diana said, “A bomb at your dad’s place. Got to go.”
She hung up. Alex immediately dialed his dad’s number.
“Hello?” Anders said.
“Dad, what’s going on?” Alex said.
“Sorry I’m late,” Anders said, “I was holed up at work. Somebody mailed a bomb to us, addressed to Theresa. We’re on full lockdown.”
“Are you okay?” Alex said.
“We’re fine,” Anders said, “But it may be hours before I can come home.”
“Do you know who did it?” Alex said.
“Not yet,” Anders said, “But I’ll find out. I promise you. I hate to be the story itself, but it’s not my choice, I guess. This is what happens when there are people who hate the free press and the truth they print. Look, Alex, I’ll be fine. Just…find some food first. It may be a while.”
“Alright, Dad,” Alex said, “I hope you’re okay.”
“I will, Alex,” Anders said, “I always will.”
Alex hung up. Now where was that leftover roast beef?
Brandenburg Palace - March 17, 5:00 PM
“The Kaiser still has not issued a statement about the recent attempted bombing of the Die Zeiten main offices,” the RBC anchor reported, “His father had previously condemned acts of domestic terrorism during his reign, most notably during the Trebizond bombings in the 1990s.”
Wilhelm Karl changed the channel.
“The Kaiser has not spoken out against this act of attempted domestic terrorism,” the IBC reporter said, “It remains to be seen if he will condemn such acts like his father did.”
Wilhelm Karl changed the channel.
“This comes after His Majesty last week rescinded an award intended for Die Zeiten reporter Theresa Novak,” the IBS reporter said, “She helped break the Sentinel leaks and has recently reported on a Mongol bot network spreading right-wing propaganda. This announcement came on International Women’s Day, which leads many to assume a hidden agenda is at play here.”
Wilhelm Karl changed the channel.
“It’s also no coincidence that just this last weekend, he also used imperial decrees to rollback antitrust laws regarding media mergers and regulations on journalism standards to, in his words, ‘promote economic growth and competition’,” the CNN pundit said, “And two days ago, he lashed out at reporters from Frankfurter Zeitung for recklessly harassing the negligent drone operator involved in the death of Prince Georg, saying they dishonored his late brother’s memory and disgraced the profession; the operator later committed suicide as a result. The reporters are now being sued for causing his death.”
Wilhelm Karl changed the channel. His TV now showed a town street, with cars burning and bandana-wearing young men throwing rocks and Molotov cocktails at riot police.
“An angry mob has set up barricades in the streets of Ulm earlier this afternoon,” the local news reporter said, “What was initially a peaceful French Lives Matter rally for allegedly bringing to light police brutalities against the French community was soon hijacked by radical neo-equalists who called for violent rebellion to establish an independent Soviet Republic of France. The governor has declared martial law and mobilized the Imperial Guard…”
“Why doesn’t everyone else report on the important news?” Wilhelm Karl said.
“Well, the rest of the media has it out for you,” Elias said.
“I can see that,” Wilhelm Karl said, “Why do they never learn? Why do they never talk about my achievements?”
“They seem to think you incite violence and hatred,” Elias said.
“Ridiculous,” Wilhelm Karl said, “I’m just pointing out the flaws in the system. I’m not sugarcoating my words. They take it upon themselves to take offense to whatever I say. What should I do about them?”
“Not really anything right now,” Elias said, “At least Dikastirio folded.”
“They did?” Wilhelm Karl said.
“They ditched the plan to tweak the algorithm to search for hate speech,” Elias said, “Turns out it’s biased against CB, the Shepherds’ Brotherhood, and a lot of the CMU.”
“At least they understand,” Wilhelm Karl said, “Funny, the one media source everyone calls the most left-wing actually listens to what I have to say.”
“Ironic indeed,” Elias said.
“Say, what are you doing lately?” Wilhelm Karl said. “I haven't seen you or Gertrude at any public events since the examinations.”
“We’ve been lying low,” Elias said, “Switching gears to our charity work for the time being. Gertrude’s spending the extra time to write a new book.”
“Sounds great,” Wilhelm Karl said, “I look forward to reading it.”
“It’s going to be another bestseller, I can feel it,” Elias said, “With it, we can slowly rebuild our credibility going into 2025.”
“Good work, Elias,” Wilhelm Karl said, “I hope you win in 2025. I'm getting sick of the current Diet’s antics…”
His eyes wandered to a corner of the room. He saw Georg leaning against the wall, staring quietly at him just like Otto and Elisabeth Alexandra did.
“Hey!” Wilhelm Karl shouted. “What are you doing here?”
Elias looked at the corner but saw nothing.
“Uh…you talking to me?” he asked.
“No!” Wilhelm Karl said. “Him! Don’t you see him?”
“Who?” Elias said.
“My brother!” Wilhelm Karl said. “He’s there, watching me!”
“Sir, your brother is dead, and there’s nobody in this room but us,” Elias said.
Wilhelm Karl focused on the corner, but Georg was gone.
