A Very Generic Story
Sept 20, 2010 17:59:17 GMT
Post by Deleted on Sept 20, 2010 17:59:17 GMT
Tai Lieng touched down softly at the front gate. Sure, he could have flown over it, but that would have been rude, and he wanted to enter as an invited guest, not a trespasser. For months, Li had wandered the world, searching for new benefactors for the monastery without success. Apparently spirituality and learning to harness "the power within" were no longer en vogue. He was getting worried that his mission would be a failure. Still, he persevered, and he felt a glimmer of hope when he learned that a rich man in Generica might be looking to give some money away.
He had never heard of Captain Generica before and was embarrassed whenever he asked about him, only to get expressions of shock in return. "What!? You don't know who the Captain is?" was the typical, hysteric reply, often followed a a long tirade of how awesome he was. Li then decided to research him more thoroughly, and discovered he had gone his whole life knowing nothing about "the World's Greatest Hero." Captain Generica was a man of great strength, with powerful, supernatural abilities, and--most importantly--great wealth.
The Captain's luxurious living was in striking contrast to the nation he called home. Generica was socialist, and for everyone else in the country but him, sticking out was a vice. It was a country of little variety when it came to most things, and even the houses looked the same. The government was not technically totalitarian, and there weren't any specific laws that limited freedom of expression, but the culture of the nation was set up so that too much individuality was taboo. Captain Generica was the great exception, and, in many experts' eyes, the key to the whole system.
His cult of personality offered the people an escape from their individual desires. They could live vicariously through him and the adventures of the Hero Force. He was their pride, their greed, and their selfishness embodied. Most importantly to the government, he was an agent of the state, whose loyalty was contagious to the population. The tax revenue they made from sales of Hero Force appearances, merchandise, and comics worldwide represented 25% of their GDP. His ego was more than satisfied. As long as the Captain was happy, the people were too.
The Captain had no desire to take over the government. He was too rich and having too much fun. He instead ruled through his army of publicists and marketers, one of whom Li happened to run into. That was how Li found out the Captain had a charitable foundation that regularly donated money to worthy causes. The Captain could care less about anyone but himself, of course, but his team convinced him it was good for his image, so he went along with it.
Li filled out a mountain of paperwork and waited anxiously, but never received a reply. Getting desperate and continuously receiving word of mounting bills back home, he decided that he needed to take a more direct approach. If only the Captain could meet him in person, he would offer a donation for sure. Weren't they kindred spirits? Trained warriors who could both harness their inner ki and manifest it in miraculous ways? Even a thousandth of a percent of Captain Generica's income would make a great difference.
Li approached the gate guard, who glared into him. As direct as Li was planning to be, he nevertheless knew that telling the guard he was here for money was not going to get a serious response. He figured he would play it by ear. Luckily, the guard spoke first, "Are you here for the Hero Force tryouts?"
"Me? Umm...yes! Of course!"
"Then please knock on the front door. The butler will guide you to the Captain."
"Excellent."
He had never heard of Captain Generica before and was embarrassed whenever he asked about him, only to get expressions of shock in return. "What!? You don't know who the Captain is?" was the typical, hysteric reply, often followed a a long tirade of how awesome he was. Li then decided to research him more thoroughly, and discovered he had gone his whole life knowing nothing about "the World's Greatest Hero." Captain Generica was a man of great strength, with powerful, supernatural abilities, and--most importantly--great wealth.
The Captain's luxurious living was in striking contrast to the nation he called home. Generica was socialist, and for everyone else in the country but him, sticking out was a vice. It was a country of little variety when it came to most things, and even the houses looked the same. The government was not technically totalitarian, and there weren't any specific laws that limited freedom of expression, but the culture of the nation was set up so that too much individuality was taboo. Captain Generica was the great exception, and, in many experts' eyes, the key to the whole system.
His cult of personality offered the people an escape from their individual desires. They could live vicariously through him and the adventures of the Hero Force. He was their pride, their greed, and their selfishness embodied. Most importantly to the government, he was an agent of the state, whose loyalty was contagious to the population. The tax revenue they made from sales of Hero Force appearances, merchandise, and comics worldwide represented 25% of their GDP. His ego was more than satisfied. As long as the Captain was happy, the people were too.
The Captain had no desire to take over the government. He was too rich and having too much fun. He instead ruled through his army of publicists and marketers, one of whom Li happened to run into. That was how Li found out the Captain had a charitable foundation that regularly donated money to worthy causes. The Captain could care less about anyone but himself, of course, but his team convinced him it was good for his image, so he went along with it.
Li filled out a mountain of paperwork and waited anxiously, but never received a reply. Getting desperate and continuously receiving word of mounting bills back home, he decided that he needed to take a more direct approach. If only the Captain could meet him in person, he would offer a donation for sure. Weren't they kindred spirits? Trained warriors who could both harness their inner ki and manifest it in miraculous ways? Even a thousandth of a percent of Captain Generica's income would make a great difference.
Li approached the gate guard, who glared into him. As direct as Li was planning to be, he nevertheless knew that telling the guard he was here for money was not going to get a serious response. He figured he would play it by ear. Luckily, the guard spoke first, "Are you here for the Hero Force tryouts?"
"Me? Umm...yes! Of course!"
"Then please knock on the front door. The butler will guide you to the Captain."
"Excellent."