Sam's office was quiet, but not in the usual way. Normally it buzzed with hidden tech, but now it felt heavy. Senator Sterns stood there with his people—serious-looking aides, a nervous doctor, and Victoria Snow. They didn't sit down. They looked like they owned the place.
"Surrender was the wrong word," Sterns said, his voice rough and tired. His sharp eyes scanned everything—the view, the desk, even Sam. "Let's call it reality. You put a weapon in the world. You fired it. Everyone saw."
"A weapon?" Sam asked calmly from behind his desk. He didn't look upset. "I see a key. A cure for death, sickness, weakness. I gave it to a hundred people who deserved it."
"You broke every rule!" one of the aides shouted. His face was red.
Sam glanced at him once, and the man actually stepped back like he'd been burned. "The rules you're so proud of keep people dying," Sam said. "I went one hundred for one hundred. Perfect. Tell me your system can do the same."
Sterns lifted a weak hand and the room went silent. Even sick, the man had presence. "I don't have time for long arguments, Mr. Jackson. You know why I'm here."
Sam nodded slowly. He already knew the Senator's secret. Brain cancer. Three months to live, if that.
"Then let's stop pretending," Sterns said, stepping forward with his cane. His voice lowered, almost like it was just the two of them. "You have what I need. I have what you need."
Sam raised an eyebrow. "And what do I need, Senator?"
"Legitimacy," Sterns said. The word hit hard. "You have power, but no acceptance. Governments are panicking. They'll write laws, send armies, do whatever they must. Even if you win, the world will be chaos. You can't fight chaos. But with me? With my network, my influence—I can bring your serum into the system. I can turn fear into acceptance. I can protect you with law instead of guns."
Sam stayed quiet. He knew the Senator was right about that part.
"In exchange for my life," Sterns said finally.
"In exchange for your life," Sam repeated.
Sterns's grip on his cane tightened. "I don't want to die clinging to power. I want to be remembered as the man who brought a new era. Give me your cure, and I'll give you the path forward."
The office went silent. Victoria Snow stood frozen, watching.
Sam stood, walked around his desk, and stopped right in front of Sterns. The difference between them was clear—youth and power standing over age and sickness.
"You're right about one thing," Sam said quietly, his voice sharper now. "I won't rule over ashes. But don't think this is equal. This isn't a deal. This is a test."
He pulled a capsule from his desk drawer, glowing faint blue. The Genesis Serum.
"This is the future," Sam said, holding it out. "Your power, your laws—they belong to the old world. You will take this. You will be my shield. You will keep your promises, not because of some contract, but because I gave you life again. You'll owe it to me—and to the world I'm building."
Sterns stared at him. For once in his life, he looked small. Then, with a shaking hand, he took the capsule.
"The terms…" his voice was almost a whisper. "…are acceptable."
Sam nodded once. "Welcome to the future, Senator."
The group left in silence. At the door, Victoria looked back at Sam, her face pale. For the first time, she looked like she truly understood.
Sam turned back to the window, the city glowing with his power. The first piece was on the board. The most powerful man in politics wasn't his ally—he was his servant.
The rules had changed. And Sam was the one writing them.
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