New Story: The Benevolent Dictator: Part 3

The Benevolent Dictator: Part 3

                “Alright computer, pump chemicals into our people’s rooms and take them into a deep dream land.” Said Bob to the computer.

                “Yes sir, initiating dream inducing chemical exposure.” Said the computer.

                John found himself in a locker room. He looked around then looked at his hands. They were smooth yet wrinkled. He could see his pores, his vision zoomed in and it was as if he was climbing into his own skin. He wore gym shorts and a light weight exercise shirt. He was fairly out of breath but he didn’t know why.

                “I’m apparently in the gym but I don’t remember getting here. How did I get here?” He asks himself.

                “Something doesn’t seem right.” John says to himself.

                He continues to look around the room and focuses on a wall outlet. The two vertical openings started vibrating, then they melted slowly dripping down the wall. John shrunk down to microscopic size and jumped into the outlet before the melted plastic seals the openings.  

                “Ok, this is clearly not normal.” John said to himself.

                “Uh oh computer, we have a problem.” Said Bob.

                “Sir, what is it?” Said the computer.

                “You seriously don’t know, haha?” Asked Bob

                “Sorry sir, I don’t.” Said the computer.

                “We’re losing one in room 154, a John Clarey. He’s coming out of sub-consciousness. We need to pump in some strong coma inducing chemicals.” Said Bob.

                “I’m on it sir.” Said the computer.

                John flew through the currents of the outlet. He came out through another outlet and grew in size to his normal height. He is now in a weight room. No one else is in the gym.

                “This is looking more like the gym. Things seem to be returning to normal.” Said John.

                “Good job computer, he’s returning to his reality. No more strange things happening, he’s at the gym working out, what he normally does after a work day. Cruising around the wall outlets was just a glitch. Keep pumping in those chemicals. Keep him happy, keep them all happy…” Bob said as he trailed off.

                “Yes sir, maintaining dream inducing chemicals with the exception of room 154. He is currently being administered coma chemicals. All is well sir, all is well…”

New Story: The Benevolent Dictator Part 2

The Benevolent Dictator: Part 2

                “Alright computer, now we begin phase two. What’s that? What is phase two? You’ll find out soon enough. With every Coastal Ridgian in a controlled coma we have complete freedom to act any way we want and to decree and commission new building. Usually I would receive some feedback for my decisions, but not anymore haha! As you are aware, every so many years we go on warring campaigns. But the beauty of this is that we always go away to war. They never come to us, therefore as long as we don’t go out attempting to expand our empire, then we shall remain safe here, haha, beautiful. I say shall because they will eventually attempt to find us. Their empires will increase in strength since we will not be there to continuously check their power. Eventually they’ll come searching but we won’t be here, or we won’t appear to be here. Ok computer, initiate phase 2.”

                “Why of course sir, I am more than happy, elated even to serve you, thank you for..”

                Bob yawned and touched his fingers to his neat beard, drumming his chin with his fingers. “Shut up and initiate, please, that’s all I ask of you.”

                “Yes sir, of course sir, initiating phase 2.” The computer remarked.

                “Cloaking beacons going into initiation mode. Prepare cloaking beacons for power up mode.”

                “Alright then, I shall go.” Bob said as he ran out of the control room. He sprinted out of the Somnipost and ran to the northwest corner of the village. He found a brick wall with a cylinder set in the corner. He touched his finger to a dusty slate set behind the cylinder. A screen with a character prompt booted up. He typed in several commands:

                -PHASE TWO -

                - CLOAKING BEACONS-

                His fingers quickly navigated the screen and the cylinder increased in size. The cylinder reached up high into the sky. It became an immense tower. The top of the beacon extended filaments into the air. The entire tower slowly rotated and beeped. Bob looked up into the air and watched the beacon perform its duty.  Soon the beacon began to fade and only the beeping gave away its position. Bob typed in some more commands onto the screen. The beeping faded as well. Bob glanced around the corner of the city. There was now a screen of invisibility protecting the northwest corner of the city. Bob lifted up his hand and looked at it, the beacon morphed it as well. He could not see his hand, arm or body for that matter. He was completely invisible. Now he must go to the other corners of the city and start up each of the three remaining beacons.

                It took him an hour but all the beacons are now fully functional.  The city is now completely cloaked. Bob returned to the control room, out of breath.

                “Ok computer, now that the city is completely hidden, we can wait and improve the conditions in the Somnipost and take care of our people.”

New Story: The Benevolent Dictator

The Benevolent Dictator

                Scanning across the beaten courtyard, and through the crowd of equally disheveled citizens, the robed man of advancing years thought of the best way to address them. The warriors within the crowd were bruised and bloody, returned after several months of clashes with neighboring empires. They waited and listened to their leader, some nearly collapsed from fatigue. This was the moment they were waiting for, a declaration of peace after constant fighting. Their gracious and proud leader was about to bestow peace to each of them, as a right and privilege for the people of Coastal Ridge.

                "Hmm, how can I say this so they'll all believe me, I ever so would like that? They should like that too. What they don't know won't hurt them. Alright, I have to say something, haha, they're waiting," the benevolent dictator thought to himself, having drawn out the people's attention long enough. His face was red, his neat, black, beard was moistened with sweat. He shifted his feet and swayed back and forth, briefly, to calm his nerves. The oak stage creaked slightly as he moved; the stage mounted cameras were pointed at him, transmitting his speech to the homes of every person in the city on closed circuit television. He started to speak:
            "The battle is over, the fighting has ended. We've fought to the end, and lost many a brave Coastal Ridgian. However, we also fought towards a goal. Ha..um, excuse me. We fought toward peace and prosperity. The marches begin tomorrow. We shall circle the city, woman and children dancing in bright clothing, banners, balloons, and curled ribbons. Following the parade we'll enter the time of 10 year peace. To celebrate our victory I commissioned the building of a large housing unit, grand enough to accommodate every one of you! That is my offering of rest for the battered soldiers and families of those who could not return. We shall rest with them in mind. Now go! Rest up for tomorrow's festivities, up the hill to the Somnipost, you will find a bed of your own. Lay on the softest matress you have ever experienced and sleep sounder than ever.” He extended an open palm to wave them goodbye, crimson velvet flapping with the motion.

                The citizens solemnly looked toward one another; very few smiles were present, except for Bob, their cheerful leader. His large, tooth-filled grin beamed at them. They regarded him with apathy, he kept smiling.

                “Don’t be afraid, when have I ever led you astray? Wait, don’t answer that, haha. Here! Follow me, right up this blue cobble stone road.” He leapt off the stage and darted through the crowd. Such energy for a sixty year old man! He threw his robe to a guard as he passed by, revealing his motley attire. His blue coat tails danced in the wind as he ran. His gold tie caught the sunlight of a late afternoon. The sand underneath his green shoes lifted into the air and formed little clouds. He slid to a halt before the blue road and turned back, catching his breath and scanning the crowd once more. “Come on! What are you waiting for? I have dinner waiting for you, just follow me.”

                The morose crowd must have caught some of Bob’s energy, they started moving. A line formed and started towards the hill. “That’s it! Right this way.”

                They followed Bob up the slope. The Sominpost could be seen in the distance. A tall, ornate building, fixed with gargoyles, smoke stacks, arches and towers. There weren’t any windows on the front, but maybe there were a few in the back. It looked interesting. The large, front door was royal blue. It must’ve been one hundred feet tall. The building itself, well, a good guess would be something like two thousand feet, able to easily accommodate the forty thousand some odd people living in Costal Ridge. The building shone in the setting sunlight.

                They reached the top of the hill. In the distance was Bob, out of breath and panting. He held the large door open with one hand and waved the citizens in with the other. “Right this way, don’t be shy. Please remove your shoes and place them in the chute on the left side of the lobby. Following that process, approach one of the kind and gentle computer kiosks, there are five hundred in this room, and say your name into the microphone. Like this...” He waved in the stragglers and bolted to the nearest computer, swinging his arms wildly as he ran, with the utmost of excitement. He grabbed the gold plated microphone and announced with authority “Robert Olivio the third.” After a short pause the computer responded in a pleasant voice: “Good evening Bob, your suite is ready for you, proceed to the second floor, room two one two.  A monitor in front of him displayed: Floor 2 Room 212, in fancy type.

                He smiled his obscene smile and turned to the crowd. They nodded and shuffled to the computers. The air was filled with the happy, simulated voice of the computers and bland, careless voices of humans. There was also the occasional misting of lavender spray into the room and the crackle of wood burning in the fire place. They all breathed in the calming aroma of lavendar. Bob smiled and nodded.   

                “There are six elevators in the lobby. With your room number in mind, please enter an elevator and it will take you to your peaceful room. From there you may rest. Also, for those who are hungry, feel free to tell your personal computer what you would like to eat. Your choice of a delicious meal will be delivered to you, free of charge of course, haha.”

                The process went smoothly. Speak into the microphone, enter the elevator, rest, eat, and fall asleep. More and more shuffled into the Somnipost. Bob directed them all. The last person checked in at four in the morning. Bob remained standing the whole time. He greeted the small boy with a large smile and a pat on the back. The boy eventually made his way to the elevator. “Phew, finally, I thought they would still be coming in tomorrow. Now it’s time for the real treat.” He sprinted towards the western wall of the lobby and jumped through it. The hologram of a fire place and mantle did not hurt him in the least.  He landed in a large control room. “Computer, I shall dictate my commands now.” “Yes sir,” the computer responded happily.

                “Two parts amino acid, tranquilizers, water vapor and one part dream inducing neurotoxins, the harmless variety. Are you getting this? Ok, good.”  Small vents in the bedrooms piped in aerosolized chemicals. The sleepy inhabitants breathed in the mixture and drifted off into a controlled coma.

                “There, they should be safe for eternity. This is absolutely perfect. Why enter ten year peace, when you can have eternal peace? Now I can begin phase two.”