New Age

The Tie

I don't tear my eyes aways from the councilman. He, in turn, stares at me. It was so quiet that you could easily hear a pin drop. I heard the other 23 councilmen shift uncomfortably in their seats. 

"And why, would somebody like you, be interested in a Tracking job?"

"What do you mean by saying 'somebody like me,' sir?" The councilman falls silent again. I peak at his nameplate, Councilman Ryans. I take a step back, looking at each councilman. They all turn away to discuss whether or not I was approved of a Tracking job. I look over my shoulder to meet the moist eyes of my family and friends. A couple of them are already crying. A voice snaps my eyes back to the front of the room. 

"Upon great deliberation, the council has decided that Lyla Watson is not fit for Tracking duties. Please pick your next assignme-" 

"Wait. I would like to resign my input. I support this girl's decision to be a Tracker. She seems to be able enough to handle the task." A new councilman, Reynolds, cut the other man off. All of the council heatedly started arguing and speaking to one another. 

I didn't have a second assignment picked out. I came confident of my decision. What if I get stuck witha job I can't do? Why are the councilmen arguing like this? If one person changed opinions, the opposite side should still come out on top. There was no way they could be at a crossroads unless the votes were even. I scan my eyes across the chairs. One is empty.

"Unfortunately, due to an inconvienant absence of Councilman Edwards, we have approached a tie. To settle our dispute, we have alerted the leader of the Tracking Unit to give his input. The council recognizes Sergeant Jackson." At this, he waves his hand to a door opening on the far side of the room. The man who walks in quickly approaches my side. He looks so much like the boy, who is now a Tracker, Max, that I think it actually is Max standing next to me. 

He opens his mouth to speak. "To settle the decision, I require a short conversation with Ms. Watson. Privately." 

The council agrees and sends us off to an empty corridor. When he ushers me through the door and shuts it behind him, he says, "Tell me everything you know about the rebels."

"The rebels are immortal humans that lived in the Old Age that wish to do everything in their power to return the country to it's original government systems. Their pride in their past is what has gotten them so far today, but is also their weakness if you know how to use it against them. They've migrated into Jefferson State, dangerously close to the council. There are secret government safety  procedures that are failing. Most of the citizens are completely unaware of this." I think over my response, and deeming it suitable enough, I relax slightly. I was prepared to fight for my case.