The Inaugural Address

PART I - CHAPTER VI

6.

"And you're sure they're related?" I hear Brock speak in a hushed tone from behind the door. I was just waking up from a sleep that lasted only God knows how long.

The conference meeting that ended with my departure the night prior was followed by Brock convincing me outside the conference room to give myself some time away from Mabel and the details of the tour so that I could rest. We ended up getting some food from Liberty Island's cafeteria before we were separated by guards and escorted into our own individual dorm-style rooms, each complete with a twin bed and basic furniture. I remember reading somewhere that this room was common before the war at higher education institutions, back when they existed in greater numbers.

Now, if I wanted to achieve higher education, I would need a different birthday. Geminis and Capicorns were the signs to be if you wanted to be an academic.

Mabel and her group were a lot to grow accustomed to. The only person of the group that I felt somewhat comfortable with was Charity, and even then – she had opted in to working with Mabel. The fact that Mabel thinks she can just assign me tasks for the rebellion that she hopes will give her power rubs me the wrong way. Am I the only one that sees what she could be doing? Am I the only one who cared?

If Mabel was a true rebel I couldn't understand why she wouldn't aim to appeal to the progressive side of the movement and its demands. The extremists are why any of our efforts have traction, and watered down rebellions always fail. Movements need to be bold to assure real change. If it's clear that the Birth Equality Stipend is corrupt, then the leaders of the rebellion should denounce it. Otherwise, we run the risk of repeating the mistake of upholding it once a new leader takes control. These facts seemed like no-brainers to me.

I understand that Mabel wanted the tour to appeal primarily to those still on the fence in their support for the rebellion, and that we can't succeed without them. I also, however, understand that if you spend too much energy censoring and tailoring the message, we run the great risk of losing those at the heart of the mission. Once the heart is lost, the whole effort dies.

I mean, Brock and I left initially because we felt that the rebellion was off course from its original goal when we started. Although that decision was difficult, I wouldn't put it past anyone else involved for the right reasons to do the same if we failed them. They, like I, wanted the rebellion to succeed for the right way and for the right reasons, not the easy way or for the wrong reasons.

"Philip," I hear Brock's voice over the sound of knocking on my door.

"Come in, it's unlocked." I reply lazily, preparing for Philip to enter and attempt to persuade me to continue on with the rebellion and begin the tour.

"Thanks," He mutters as he opens the door. The light from the hallway surrounds his shadow as it enters my room. "Glad to see you're resting," He began as I noticed he had a folder in his hand. "I have some updates for you, if you want to hear them..."

I sit up on the bed and strug as to indicate to him to continue.

"Alright," He sighs, pulling the chair from the desk to sit down. "Well I think you've convinced Mabel you won't do anything blindly or without serious consideration and communication,"

"You say that as if it's a bad thing," I reply, stretching my arms above my head while resisting an urge to yawn.

"No, actually it's quite the opposite," Brock's voice lit up a bit as he continued, "You're exactly what Mabel needs right now, an opposing force." Brock then set the folder he brought in with him on his lap. He began to gesture with his hands as he continued. "She is open to you speaking against the Birth Equality Stipend, and she's willing to assure the stipend will fall with the House of Scorpius once we all take it down,"