Britain's Last Meeting

Part I

10th October 2121

Theodore Scott leaned back on his desk chair, with his legs raised on his desk, his arms behind his neck, and his head devoid of any productive thoughts. He had presumed that a job as REGIONAL GOVERNOR would have been more hands on. Hell, the local mayor he'd worked for as a teen always seemed like he was doing so much more than Ted was doing now. All the forces that kept a region living and breathing took place below him, nearly feeling as though they were behind his back, all he did was sign permission forms and other paperwork. He had almost no say in what they did, it was out of his control. So here he sat day in day out, in his office located in the centre of Norwich Castle, answering phone calls, signing paperwork, and listening to complaints from the public, assuring them that he will fix problems which he has no power over. It seemed to him that all he was, was a receptionist, forced to act like the royalty that the Republican Party had struggled for so long to oust.

And this was all he thought about that day, even while doing his menial chores, on his cycle home through the decaying city, and while he was devouring a hot steamy dumpling for tea. It was Friday evening, and despite his boredom with his work, it still exhausted him. So, at only 9 pm he tucked himself into bed and turned on a comedy movie, which he'd seen so many times that it no longer made him laugh, just comforted him with a warm familiarity which allowed his mind's cogs to slow down. It didn't stop the invasive thoughts telling him "You aren't doing enough," from coming into his mind, but they were softer now, only taking up a portion of his consciousness. Ted soon drifted off to sleep. 

11th October 2121

Ted woke up in the morning to the sound of his screeching doorbell, he took a look at his clock, 8:43. "Who the hell would be here this early?" he mumbled quietly to himself, before stepping out of bed and donning his morning robe. He unlocked his door and creaked it open, and there she was, Gertrude, the sweetest, but also most politically minded, woman he knew.

"Gertrude?!" He muttered groggily, "What are you doing here?"

"Oh, don't you remember Teddy?" She exclaimed sounding confused, "You asked me to meet you today for morning tea, I can leave if you're too ti-"

He cut her off, "No, no... It's fine, life's just such a blur lately that I completely forgot." He told her, still sounding groggy, but with a tinge of guilt in his voice. "Come on in, I'll put on some tea."

Gertrude came in and took a seat on the sofa in Ted's living room, which also functioned as a kitchen. Despite Theodore's prestigious office in the centre of an historic castle, his own house was no bigger than the average person's. As he filled the kettle up, Gertrude began speaking, telling him about her week.

Once she finished, she questioned "So how was your week, Teddy?"

"Well Gertrude," He began, "Pretty much the same as always, signing paperwork and listening to complaints that should be directed at those under me." He sighed deeply, "In general, I really wish there was more I could do, I didn't start politics to sign papers, I wanted to keep our country on the path of democracy, but it seems I have so little power."

She tried to console him, "Oh Ted, I'm sure you can make change, why don't you attend parliament in person more often, you could make change that way."

"I only have two votes, some of the other governors have 3 or 4, the ministers can have up to 8 votes, god even the fucking mayors get 1 vote." Ted's voice began to break, it was clear to Gertrude that she'd struck a nerve in him, nevertheless he continued, "I'm at the bottom of the barrel, my opinion means nothing compared to anyone else important, it is simply impossible to make change from my position."

Ted began to lightly sob, tears rolled down his face like warming dew on a window, slowly and gently caressing his thin cheek, as they journeyed towards his chin. Gertrude wasn't quite sure what to say, she'd never seen her friend cry, not since year 2 when he hit his head on the classroom TV while recklessly chasing each other inside. But these tears were different, they displayed hopelessness, not physical pain. Gertrude opened her mouth to speak, but all that escaped was a stutter, she wanted to console him, but she didn't quite know what to say.

Suddenly Ted spoke once again, with a croaky, and defeated sounding voice, "All I want to do, is keep my country fair, free and democratic, but I feel as if I have no power. But it just feels like the man I used to idolise has become the very thing he swore to destroy. President Corrigan keeps moving us further towards an undemocratic police state, and all the ministers seem to just look past it, stand by and let it happen."

"Look, Ethan Corrigan is an arsehole through and through. I mean shit, he has changed the constitution, that he fucking wrote, 5 times, and managed to stay in power for 20 years," Gertrude replied, somewhat sympathetically, "I'd even go so far as to say he is becoming a dictato-"

Ted defensively interrupted her, "Hey I wouldn't go so far as to call him a dictator, I have problems with him sure, but he has won every election that's been held with a massive majority." Ted argued, "And if you are suggesting I try to oust him in some way, forget it, I may take issue with the direction this country is heading, but I still serve democracy and the people."

Gertrude, tempted to debate Ted's point, restrained herself, considering Ted's emotional state and patriotism. "Okay well, if parliament isn't going to work, why don't you talk to Mr Corrigan, or maybe the foreign secretary, I know you're close with her. And obviously about something small, like... uhhh... you could talk about the arrest of the Vrackwood protestors."

Ted paused to think, then spoke calmly, "Yeah, good idea, I'll try speaking to Mr Corrigan and Ms Wilson after the parliament session next week, thank you Gertrude for cheering me up, anyway, do you want to watch some TV."

Gertrude stayed for a few hours while they watched some old cartoons from the 2060s, a type of show that wasn't made anymore, but still brought them laughter and joy. However, in the back of Ted's mind, he was thinking through how he would approach his old idols, and how in the world they would respond to his criticism.