The night the Rhymer went whack

36

The Diablet became the new currency used exclusively by these nineteen countries. They pledged to no longer deal with any country or form any trade agreement unless payment could be exchanged with this new money. Each king converted their governmental wealth as well as their personal fortunes, and the latter task was handled by Straffe.

They trusted him and needed this transition to go as smooth as possible, financially, in order for the entire process to succeed. They consulted with him frequently, creating accounts, finagling funds to hide their activities and most of all, ensuring that their personal wealth would stay in-tact even creating a fail-safe if things didn’t go as planned.

So Straffe, sitting alone in his office as the world was rapidly collapsing around him, thought of his friend and smiled, hoping he was safe and knowing he was on beat. The story of Noah popped into his mind as he, his family and those animals weathered the storm so necessarily. The world was so out of tune, he concluded, continuing to reflect before his contemplation was interrupted by a loud boom. He jumped up and rushed to the lobby, soon coming upon a large window completely shattered as employees stood around the mess of papers, glass and overturned chairs and tables screaming in horror. He hurried over and consoled his receptionist before peering through the empty pane to see what everyone else was looking at: the mangled body of a jumper. An employee who decided after learning that everything was gone, no finances or savings, to end it all. Then that same loud crash and boom repeated itself, more faint, as other employees decided their own fate.

The losses of money were staggering. The stock market shut down after grinding to a halt, leaving financial institutions useless, causing all this despair, hopelessness and now death. Wall Street was no longer safe. After making sure his staff was as ok as can be, he snuck through the chaos back to his office and surveyed the unfolding events through his window, wondering if he should attempt to go home. While pondering, he witnessed the looting of the supermarket next door and multiple strong arm robberies right in broad daylight.

If I don’t leave now, he thought, the night time escape would be even worse. With their accounts depleted, suits and ties were robbing the weak for all the money they could get. The news reported gas prices continuing to climb as well as food and other necessities. The police were quickly overwhelmed as people had become desperate. And, at first being deployed to protect the banks and bankers, soon they began using their weapons to loot the vaults and rob civilians in an effort to secure their own survival.

Straffe had to exit quick. In preparation, he had compiled an arsenal, a couple of shotguns and five handguns. He didn’t need them all but he grabbed two and headed downstairs. As bank president everyone knew him, so escaping the building through security was easy, but once on the street, he was quickly tested though a rapid flash of his forty five quelled all assailants. He hustled homeward, arrived safely and relaxed against his door and caught his breath. Engulfed in the safety of home, he took a few moments before answering the many messages and phone calls he had received in the past few hours.

All nineteen presidents had phoned, plus some family and friends and a message from The Soundman signaling that he was headed home and so far, he was fine. He showered, washed off as much of the day as possible, then relaxed in his living room with a glass of wine before returning everyone’s calls. Primarily the world leaders assuring them that their funds are secure and safe. The coup, for them, was going as planned. Most of his family and friends were safe, some weren’t but his concern for now was for himself and his future. He took one more look at the chaos down below as it was well into dusk and there’s still robbing, now murders and complete panic. He smirked before turning away, refocusing himself on his opened laptop.

Once Straffe’s internal beat got in sync he began hating his job, hating what he did. Money became his enemy, especially once he and The Soundman’s friendship budded more intensely, making it problematic for him to continue in his field. Ironically, when the coup situation arose, the world leaders began extending extra payments for his loyal service. Paying him well. So well that it was then when he decided to venture out and fully work for their side. He kept his actions under wraps knowing that what he was doing was worse than treasonous. But by then, he had considered himself worldly, not just an American, and knew that drastic measures were soon needed to turn this corrupt world around.

Straffe figured he would need a nest egg and build some wealth with both the U.S. dollar and Diablet, about ten million each, just in case things didn’t go as planned. He was fed up, determined, wanted out and decided that the day of the coup would be his last day of work. He began red x-ing his desk calendar, five years until retirement was all he thought about once he was recruited. But viewing the wealth of the involved nations as well as each president’s personal bank accounts brought him to the realization that ten million in both currencies would not be enough, so he began creating false accounts, numerous ones, embezzling as much as he could for a more secured retirement.

Sitting there, relaxed against a backdrop of destruction, Straffe finally returned Lubanzi’s call. Fully expecting a subdued response, he was surprised to hear the excitement in the South African President’s voice. “Where have you been,” he exclaimed upon answering before quickly shifting to his real concern, “and how’s my money?”

The organizer, Lubanzi’s father, came up with the coup idea. The first part of the plan was to have his young son elected president at an early age, giving him the needed time it would take to carry the scheme to fruition. “Global Change,” was their message and it rang through by emphasizing to the people that the world’s status quo must be defeated. “Power to the People” resonated with the citizens as they had known poverty for years and saw firsthand the raping of their coal mines, diamond mines and coffee, fruits and vegetables that were native to their land at the expense of Western nations who grew richer while they grew poorer. What did they have to lose? So a sacrifice for a better future was a no-brainer.

Lubanzi began to travel extensively, first with his father then on his own accord, spreading his global agenda to a strategic number of nations who’s citizens empathized with his nation’s plight. And as word traveled about the plan, they had to be careful; this was tricky, for if word got into the wrong ears about his covert operation, all hell would’ve broken loose. And like himself, he needed other young leaders with time, for this process could take decades to groom a whole new economy for the people. When contacted, their first question was always, “Who’s going to pay for this?” and this streamlined his thoughts to Straffe, who had been his trusted personal financier for a number of years. Eventually, all parties were introduced and continued to stay in touch until there was a unified trust throughout, so Straffe bided his time between establishing relationships with the leaders and building his budding friendship with The Soundman.

If this all had taken place just a few months earlier, he definitely would have notified the authorities.

It was Straffe who, during one meeting where all the leaders were present, constructed a booth just like how The Soundman had instructed. He had kept his friend in the loop throughout, sharing his wishes and more importantly, his concerns. And it was The Soundman’s guidance that gave him the courage to envision a brighter future and trust that this path was the only way to achieve it. So, as they sat together in that same crowded coffee shop, The Soundman with a coffee and Straffe with his Earl Grey tea, no one present knew that these two gentlemen were plotting to change the world. And as they each sipped in relief that their plan was moving forward and comfortable with its direction, The Soundman knew that there was one final piece needed for the plot to be complete. Imagine having access to any sound that existed and also the ones that you can create. The Soundman did, and when he provided Straffe with his instrument in hopes of saving the world, all fate was in Straffe’s hand—literally.

These leaders were mostly from third world countries with bombings, assassinations and coups happening constantly. Having them all in the same room together was a major concern. But Straffe had gained their trust and they each agreed to attend. He had planned for them to arrive separately, giving him one on one time with each other to further extinguish their trepidations. Once done and they were all present and he was confident that the plan could move forward, they each finally entered, quietly roaming, having not heard silence in all their lives.

Some cried, yet they all lit up. Lit up thinking that they were in complete silence, but Straffe, using The Soundman’s instrument, was tapping a steady beat, barely audible, unifying these nineteen souls who would ultimately destroy, then save the world. So as each one exited, washed anew, they waited for one another giving and receiving hugs filled with joy, and at that moment, they knew that their efforts would not be in vain and they were the ones destined to lead the world into the future.

***

“I need you to come to Pretoria as soon as possible,” he demanded toward his financier. “I’m seeing all this chaos just like we expected and I just received a call from your navy. So hurry,” he concluded before hanging up.

That actually was the most important part of the plan. They expected the ensuing chaos, the markets collapsing and the economic upheaval and they actually found it ironic that most of the world, people of color, their citizens, would be best equipped to survive this mess. “Funny eh!” Lubanzi said and then chuckled in the midst of their conversation, so the meltdown was of no concern to them. But the U.S. Military was, the war ships, navy seals and most dangerously, the nuclear warheads that they knew could wipe them out in seconds. How would the U.S. react? So, early on, that was the main reason to add a few European and North American nations. Their militaries were formidable enough to necessitate any immediate attack, buying just enough time until the world economic collapse would be complete. And now was that time, the waiting game, that made the South African President nervous, along with the eighteen other leaders.