Richard Stephenson - Resistance

Roberto found the cries for retribution amusing. Even without watching the videos, he knew the demonstrations weren’t aimed at him or the UAE. The citizens of his region knew better than to speak out against the UAE since to do so resulted in the death penalty. Angry citizens harkening back to the days of the democratic United States thought it was all a bluff, a fear tactic meant to control the populace. At first, protestors were arrested and imprisoned, with public execution at a later, more convenient, time. Roberto thought this measure would be enough but was shocked when even more brazen fools protested the executions and demanded governmental reform. Without haste, he ordered in the troops and gunned down the recalcitrant protestors in the street, leaving their bloody, bullet-ridden bodies behind.

“Computer, what’s on the schedule?”

“Sir, President Sterling is requesting to speak with you.”

Roberto yelled for Andrew to get him from the bathroom to his desk.

“Establish the connection.”

“Good morning, Roberto, is this a bad time?” Simon asked once the link was completed.

“Not at all, Mr. President. What can I do for you?”

“I’m on my way to your home. I should be there in less than an hour.”

“A pleasant surprise, Mr. President. If you’d have given me more notice, I could have prepared a reception in your honor.”

“That won’t be necessary; my visit is unscheduled and unannounced for a reason. I have something to discuss with you that requires the utmost secrecy.”

“I’m honored, Mr. President. This can’t wait till the funeral?”

“No, Roberto, it cannot. Tell no one about my arrival and make no preparations.”

“I look forward to it, Mr. President.”

***

President Simon Sterling emerged from his helicopter and followed the flagstone path to Regional Governor Jimenez’s guest home. Roberto waited alone in the dining room, his nervous expectation nearly getting the best of him.

“Mr. President, I took the liberty of having coffee and pastries set out for you. Help yourself. I know you said no preparations, but I don’t have it in me to be a less than gracious host.”

“Thank you, Roberto. I just didn’t want to attract attention to my visit.”

“I must say I’m rather surprised by this, Mr. President. It’s not like you to sneak around.”

“You are indeed correct. Once I say what I have to say, you’ll understand the need for discretion.”

“I’m all ears, Mr. President.”

“To put it frankly, Roberto, the UAE is on a path to destruction. Well, to be more accurate, The Pulse Zone is on a path to destruction.”

“How so?”

“We’ve made significant strides in restoring the infrastructure, but the problem of maintaining law and order remains. Much of the region is being divided up into small pockets controlled by either crime lords or powerful individuals who can offer a community the protection for which all are so desperately longing. At first I put a stop to it but soon saw the benefit of these communities.”

“Meaning they were simply one less thing for you to worry about, correct?”

“Yes. As long as they were minding their own business and not causing trouble, I left them alone. All of our efforts have been focused on getting the power back on and rebuilding the interstates, but The Silent Warriors stymie our progress at every turn. Butler will clear out a stretch of road and rebuild a bridge, and those cursed terrorists will come in behind him and undo everything. It’s making things impossible for us.”

“Mr. President, what can I do to help?”

“I’m here to discuss a matter that has been troubling me for months. Regional Governor Butler has become a problem.”

“Really? In what way?”

“I’m growing concerned that his loyalties no longer lie with the UAE. He’s becoming increasingly insolent and enjoys testing the limits of my patience. I put him in charge of the reconstruction efforts in The Pulse Zone because I thought he could get the job done.”

“You’re not satisfied with his progress?”

“Quite the contrary. He’s doing an exemplary job in spite of all the frustrating setbacks. What troubles me is his affinity for the spotlight. He’s arrogant and will do anything to gain popularity. The accusations you made recently about him stockpiling resources and manpower did not fall on deaf ears. I looked into the matter and discovered that you were correct.”

“To what end?”

“Isn’t it obvious? He’s planning to seize power and get rid of me.”

Roberto laughed. “By himself? He can’t possibly be that deluded. Just because he’s making strides in getting The Pulse Zone up and running doesn’t mean he’s in any position to start a civil war. That sort of egotistic idiocy is the last thing we need right now. Once Iran is finished with Europe, they’re coming for us. Butler has to know that.”

“I think he’s too blinded by power to even care. He must think he can get rid of me, slip quietly into the driver’s seat and just take the wheel without any bloodshed.”

“What do you want me to do, Mr. President?”

“If I know Jackson like I think I do, he’s going to reach out to some of the other regional governors for support.”

“You know the two of us don’t exactly get along. I’d be at the bottom of his list.”

“That’s why I came to you, Roberto. Of all the regional governors, you’re the only one in whom I have implicit trust. You were instrumental in helping me overthrow Malcolm Powers, and it’s a fortunate coincidence that you and Jackson despise each other.”

“That’s putting it lightly.”

“I need you to be mindful of the rest of the group. Use the attack on the Golden Gate Bridge as your cover. Tell them I’m furious with you, furious enough to force you into retirement. A few juicy rumors should get their tongues wagging.”

“I wish you’d force me into retirement; I could use a break. What are you planning to do about Butler?”

“Nothing for the time being. I’m curious to know if he can recruit anyone to his cause.”

“And if he does?”

“I think you already know the answer to that.”

Benjamin Black had never felt such fervent hatred toward anything or anyone in his life. Yes, he faced the customary loathing for mundane annoyances- he hated getting stuck in traffic, he detested his shitty bosses, and he despised the Dallas Cowboys with a vengeance — but nothing came close to the unmitigated, raw hatred Benjamin harbored for the Unified American Empire.

Like so many Americans, Ben felt he’d been deceived by President Simon Sterling. In the wake of the collapse, Sterling seemed like the perfect answer to the country’s desperate prayers, both a revolutionary and a true patriot. The guy was smart and ready to cut through a mountain of bullshit to do things right and get them done fast . The fact that Sterling’s initial move was to bring the country’s troops home, leaving the rest of the world to fend for itself, made him the most beloved president of all time. And just when Ben thought the man couldn’t possibly top that, President Sterling made it clear to all that his style of dogged isolationism not only referred to military intervention, but to financial relief as well. Even while the country was mired in The Second Great Depression, the bleeding-heart liberals still wanted to send billions and billions of dollars to feed the starving children of the world. President Sterling proclaimed that Americans had their own starving children to feed, thank you very much. No more handouts, no more sticking our noses into foreign matters where they didn’t belong in the first place. America had enough problems to deal with; the rest of the world was on its own. Benjamin Black believed in Simon Sterling. If anyone could pull the country out of The Second Great Depression and rebuild The Pulse Zone, he could do it.