The Canadian Empire

V, Live to Conform; Die for Rebellion

Agent D. Theodore, better known as Rudolph by the PU kids, is a Post Guard. He started his term mid-January the year before and already met Kidville's child mandate at 19.

Post Guards were granted special privileges for their service. He'd already read the Quran and Bible each three times, adored Beethoven, and celebrated Christmas.

He and Thomas knew each other. In fact, this entire meeting was being set up as an effort to enlighten humanity about their lost privileges. Ferris had only the faintest idea of their contribution but knew he (Ferris, not Thomas) was to be killed. Even Ayline, the seemingly indoctrinated girl from earlier, was going to burn herself in support of the Rebellion.

However, they decided Joanne would be left alone. Her reaction to Ferris and Ayline's 'surprise' deaths would be tracked, then Thomas – if he felt it was right to – would finally offer her the chance to join their movement.

***

Rudolph entered midway through Thomas's talk, silencing the crowd. He winked at Ayline, Ferris frowned, and Thomas eyed Rudolph. Live to conform; die for rebellion was their code. Meanwhile, Ferris experienced intrusive thoughts that wavered his confidence. He felt queasy.

'What's he doing with that..' Joanne thought, for the faintest second meeting Rudolph's eyes.

He slowly trod forward, keeping his assault rifle at hand. In addition to Ayline and Ferris, two unnamed kids were going to 'speak up against him' and he must 'silence them.' The thing was, he didn't know who. Also, what if Joanne did? Would he shoot?

One spoke up.

A blond.. and weird eyes; John. He only needed to move - "Look, it's the Post!" – and poof went off his head. Thankfully, Rudolph's visor automatically blurred out the blood. To his defense, the boy had died voluntarily by screaming his Tom Foolery.

The boys surrounding that Jodie kid all came up; that meant they were listening. This was essential.

"C'mon guys, take it easy. It was only a 13-year," Rudolph said, speaking more for himself than the actual crowd. Reloading his weapon, he asked, "Whoever started up this hoot, step forward."

Though nobody spoke up, everyone began eyeing Thomas's direction. Thomas had described the second guy up for killing. Carl Mackovic. Without looking, Rudolph sent three rounds in his direction; his first missed, second missed again, but the third finally nailed him in the head. After his fall, Rudolph barked, "Stop this staring contest and tell me NOW!" Neat, he thought.

'Why must we kill them?' Why did she feel off all of a sudden.

Ferris already knew the plan so either way he'd die. If he didn't comply, Rudolph would send the bullet, then take Thomas so they could stage Ferris's role, which was to go to Room 202. Unlike Ferris, though, he wouldn't get killed. Their superiors had already tracked who was living and dying.

He began eyeing Thomas, so Rudolph called Thomas to his side to stage an 'inspection.' This was the point where Ferris must fess up; either way, he'd die, but taking the bullet would make him look like an absolute idiot if their superiors found out.

Ferris finally spoke.

He said some crap about conspiracy as a whole being bad, Thomas being wrongly misjudged his entire life yet was christian, then offered himself up for the Scolding Hall. Everyone in the silent crowd, although sad to see Ferris go, blew themselves mental sighs of relief; better lover boy than them.

The crowd began leaving as one, everybody gone except for Ayline, Joanne, and Thomas.

Joanne eyed Ayline weirdly. She kept whispering 'kerosene' under her breath, which was contained in a little bottle she'd left in the grass. Meanwhile, as Thomas packed, he eyed then sat beside her, asking, "I could get you a copy of Kidville."

"No thank you," she said brashly.

"Sure?" he asked, his air slightly dipping. "Suure you wouldn't like to learn from Alden himself about our crappy world?"

"Tom... dude, what the frick? It's fine; it's not fine. Nothing and everything is okay. Look around; we 16-year-olds are looking to learn about some world that's existed but one we'll never live in. Ferris'll die because you weren't taken in by Rudolph, yet there isn't anything I can do for him... This 'some people are more equal than others' needs to stop!" she cried. Ferris dying, however, wasn't her concern, but was one far greater. Those thoughts of inhumanity hammered in her mind, still fresh even 'til now and were.. telling her something?

"Kidville," he said simply. "The foundation of our government since 1986 has been based on Alden Alexander's novel. If you consider reading it, your mind will be open to all that's known and to be known. From the 'YoL' – the pre-determined date conceiving the culturally-void world of Kidville since January 1st, 1986 - until now, Alexander has predicted everything. I even believe the Party uses Kidville to choreograph things."

Joanne nodded periodically, all to appear focused on him rather than on those thoughts and Ayline. Flinging her empty glass bottle away, Ayline lit a match, setting herself ablaze like a religious idol. When Thomas finally shut up, she had transformed. Her petite, beautiful frame was charred, blackened, and roasted, turning from virgin to grotesque. Deceased muscle fell like dried fish, her slackened jaw ripped off, and her remaining clothing was whisked away in the cyclonic fire, dripping with intestine. She was naked.

Her remaining flames developed into a fast-moving conflagration which entered into the PU. "Holy!" Joanne cried but then stopped. Thomas was smiling.

"Oh... Ferris, you good for nothing--!" she laughed.