[ WP ] A person is holding the world hostage . They could annihilate humanity with the push of a button . `` Be Kind . '' is their only demand .

The scientist is on the top floor of the skyscraper, surrounded by complicated machinery. He's looking out the window when I enter, perhaps taking a last look at the world he intends to destroy. One hand rests on a bright red button, covered by a plastic safety shield. The Button. 
 
 He looks at me with undisguised contempt. `` Oh. They sent a negotiator.'' 
 
 `` Do n't do anything rash.'' I begin. `` You've got the world's attention. The President is *personally* looking at your demands right now. Give us some time and I'm sure we can come to a settlement that does n't involve blowing up the planet with a positron warhead.'' 
 
 `` Well? It was a two word demand. Should n't take that long for him to read my demands.'' 
 
 `` It's easy to describe, but a lot harder to do. The world's a pretty big place, you know.'' 
 
 `` Do n't patronize me. You can tell the rest of the world the same thing I told you. Be kind, or I push the button.'' 
 
 `` Well, let's try and nail down that demand. Suppose one person is n't kind. One person out of 8 billion. Surely you would n't destroy the world over one person?'' 
 
 `` Maybe I would.'' He flips the safety cover off of the button. `` Do you want to test that theory?'' 
 
 `` Whoa, whoa, hold on there! I'm just asking, what do we need to do to meet your demands? If we solve world peace and world hunger, but we do n't solve, I do n't know, playground bullying, are you going to push the button?'' 
 
 `` Be. Kind.'' His voice is a low growl. `` Two words. It's not complicated. Quit trying to weasel your way out of this.'' 
 
 `` Okay, fine. We'll be kind. We'll get everyone to be kind. What sort of time frame are you asking for? Because even the USA ca n't get something like that done in a weekend.'' 
 
 `` I do n't think you understand your position here. I have a positron warhead with my finger on the detonator. You have *nothing. * That means that *your job*, and the job of everyone on the planet, is to make me not want to push the button. Do everything in your power to convince me that you are honestly attempting to be kind, or I blow up the planet. That is the only deal you can make.'' 
 
 I swallow. `` Alright, you've made your position clear. I'll relay your demands, and I'll get back to you when...'' 
 
 `` You will get back to me *now! * I want to hear, in the next few minutes, that the President has thrown the full force of the most powerful nation on the planet behind my demands! And then I want to hear Russia and China say the same! I want you to stop stalling me and *be fucking kind! *'' 
 
 `` I got that! I'm not stalling you!'' 
 
 He advances towards me, hands raised like he wants to strangle me. `` You liar! You are everything that's wrong with this planet! You stand here lying and stalling and waffling, even when faced with annihilation! I should-'' 
 
 *Blam* 
 
 The window shatters. The sniper rifle echoes in the suddenly silent laboratory. Blood splatters across the console. He collapses to the floor with a hole in his head. 
 
 I wipe the sweat from my brow. `` Cutting it a little close there,'' I remark into my radio. 
 
 `` I had to wait for him to step away from the button, sir. Could n't risk blowing up the world by accident.'' 
 
 Soldiers in black body armor, armed with automatic rifles, are pouring into the room behind me, sweeping the laboratory. A man in a white coat rushes for the console, mumbling something about `` neutralizing the positron emissions.'' 
 
 They'll take the bomb apart. Burn his notes and scrap his machinery. And it'll probably be a few more years before someone rediscovers the technology. A few more years before I have to try and stop a madman from pushing The Button again. 
 
 And if we do this a few dozen more times, maybe we'll keep everyone alive long enough to build a better world for real.
