Consensus Reality

David Gunsallus Consensus Reality We would walk next to a pond ablaze in the sun. And when I looked at you I would see the sun. I did not look because I was afraid; then I saw, because worse was the fear to never look at all. And I loved you. Center 1 was liberated near the beginning of the convocation. The government had quite a job back in those days keeping the peace. The damage done was minimal but the outcry to bolster security was unparalleled. An age of addicts addicted to adultery and adulating over security systems replaced what we once had. This is our New Republic. But I fix myself a realist and quite fancy the old. You see, even of the most fervent believers, tradition only goes so far. And people forget what’s real. They forget the breeze of their youth. Until they have nothing but their death and not a day to waste. Legislation rescinds freedom and I fight tyranny. But you see brother that there are those of us unwavering. The police are apt to charge dissatisfaction with truncheon, but this worries me not. I am under the radar. And I strike down with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And worry you not; no unjust action goes without punishment. And on the eve of my departure I ran into an old acquaintance, whom, for sometime had been the object of an abnormal amount of some obscured thought. We’d grown quite close in obedience, yet the past few years had brought about quite a bit of a falling out, which in turn more than anarchized in me a melancholy state of sad sorrow. Our meeting didn’t just feed my

ego however; instead it exhumed in me an egotistical fervor which I had almost forgotten. Forgotten, like time spent in solidarity or like faces of the past. Forgotten like everything real. Replaced with vague reminders and red thread around a thumb. I have trouble now. And I forget the light. And I forget the day. I have trouble recalling what I used to know. And how I used to feel. I am missing something. I have lost it. And I am different. What is it? At an upper local, my boys and I were discussing the New Republic. Our words were quite brazen which caused not a small amount of gross misunderstanding between us and the other patrons. And among this gross misunderstanding was our daughter of the new autocracy. With airs specific to those born of the ruling class, she took seat at a vacant chair of our table and looked at each of us. Instantly she put on the most grandiose of aristocratic smiles and began, “You do know that speech like that is monitored and will put you in a Center for the Discontent. I have it in good mind to tell my father...” she continued Feeling great displeasure whenever unjustly tread upon by those thought to be bore of a more supreme race I mechanically wrote her off. “We have little time for a spy of the New Republic and feel unduly soiled upon over your appearance here at our table. We would all greatly appreciate your expulsion immediately.” A single “What?” came from her mouth, the tenor of which was far from her former. It became quite obvious that my old friend was not used to hard talk. Of privilege she had led a very sheltered life and was not much exposed to radicals. Maybe she even believed they didn’t exist. But they did exist, and they engendered the extinction of everything she held dear. Trepidation of a foreign nature ran through her veins. She could not recall the last time

she had received such a blatant truth from such a cold man. Regaining some composure, she quickly thought of what she would say. Then the sound of shattering glass filled the air as stones pierced the windows that separated the nobility from the peasants outside. My friends and I made not the slightest obeisance as more stones entered through the now vacant windows. The loud speaker system began hissing and a message started. “Recent liberation of Centers 31d, 31c, 31b, and 31a should result in a very high violence probability in this sector for the next 5 to 7 days. We urge you to all stay inside while task forces are deployed. We apologize for this incontinence.” My chums and I stood up and a young man ran in to meet us, we gave him the ‘at ease’ and he quickly reported that Centers 26-29 had just been liberated and the entire quadrant would be ours by morning. At that he immediately left to join the fighting that had ensued outside. I turned to my colleagues. “Everything has gone according to plan. The superiors will be most satisfied.” I immediately contacted the High Chancellor and let him know that the revolution had begun. He was most pleased and assured me that everything had been done to undermine any true power shift. “The new revolution has begun!” I heralded and broke a glass mug on the floor. I looked at the ‘discontents’ now running amuck in the streets and fighting off oppression with a vigor reserved for those who think they are changing things. I looked down at my old friend, now huddled on the floor. She looked up and recognized me. Tears welled in her eyes. Many years had passed since our last meeting and they had done much to change my atmosphere. Her heart seemed to cry as a stream of memories flooded her head.

“We attended Kings Prep together, don’t you remember?” she choked. Her noble demeanor was now abandoned by her new found bout of emotion. I froze for a second and looked down at her. All I saw was the sun. I looked back up. Something from the past tried to escape. I closed my eyes and tried to remember. When they opened I looked out the window and remembered the importance of the mission. “The economy of ducks means little to me anymore.” I replied, and left. I returned home at a job well done. I looked at my watch and realized it was almost time for my departure. I slowly packed my things and made my way for the door. I realized I had forgotten my coat and when I went to pick it up I was washed by the greatest feeling of insincerity. Then I remembered the pond and the sun. And I remembered you. Tears flooded my eyes as I thought about what I had done. Then I remembered Disc Co. and the RP. My eyes went red and then my face grew flush and I fell. I woke up in my cell. Such a familiar cell. I was immediately greeted with shackles and brought to a red room. Two men walked in almost taking no notice of me. “This one was found in his civilian room unconscious after he’d completed his mission.” The first man reported. “I will say one thing; the Raven Program has created record profits.” I looked up at him. The other man not taking any notice continued. “Yes, I truly believe that engineered memory control will be the future. Our ability to engender revolutions under the cover of justice is just incredible. This is the future.”

“And the automatons”, the first man looked down at me; “they never suspect a thing. They just run like computer programs, except you can use a computer more than once.” he laughed. The second of the two looked down at me as well, “He needs to be presented at the memorandum tonight for the Council on Security. Even the High Chancellor will be there.” “Let’s get to it.” The shorter of the two removed a pistol and pointed it at me. I looked at my watch and realized it was almost time for my departure.