Unimpeded, they took off once again to the radio station, still hearing destruction in other parts of the city. Once inside, they wasted no time finding the main broadcasting center on the top floor; it was a large and complex system Roman didn't know how to work.
A quiet shuffling behind them drew Roman's attention as he realized he couldn't see any workers on the floor. Going over to the closet, he opened it slowly, as not to scare the people within more than they already were from the terror outside.
"It's alright, I'm not going to hurt you," he said softly, trying to reassure them. "I need your help. I can stop the danger outside, but I'm going to need to broadcast my voice all over the city. If I can do that, then they'll stop and you'll be safe again."
They seemed to accept his request, most likely eager to end the destruction and return to their lives. They quickly activated a system of speakers all over the city; the same speakers that emitted the alarm triggering the powered people. It didn't take long before Roman was in front of a microphone about to disengage the people he unleashed onto a city full of innocents. He tried to think of themselves as innocent, not knowing they were all pons in a test run for a much bigger scheme. But the blame still lingered: it was his fault all of that was happening.
"Alright, we're ready to broadcast, go ahead and start talking."
Everyone in the radio station was gathered around him, hope in their eyes as they looked eagerly at him.
Roman cleared his scratchy throat, and said one simple sentence to all the powered people not in control of their own minds.
"You will stop and obey me, now."
Based on the open windows on the far side of the room, the terror had stopped, all was quiet. Roman smiled in his victory of saving the whole city; but he wasn't sure what to do next, the powered people were under his influence, he could do anything, he supposed.
He turned back to his helpers. "I want to thank all of you for your help. I wouldn't have been able to do this without you."
They stared blankly at him, as if waiting for further instruction. Roman felt his heart sink as he went to take a closer look at them. Just as he feared, their pupils were dilated. It was then he realized what he had done: his broadcast wasn't specific to the powered people, he was speaking to the whole population!
He rushed over to the window in horror at what he had done, looking down at all the people standing in the streets waiting to be told what to do next. If the officer was correct and his power was permanent once inflicted, those people would be under his control indefinitely!
Suddenly, his horror passed as he realized what that had the potential to do. He could make use of the city as a stepping stone for all the good he could do. If he could turn that city around, and make it more like the world he was given in the simulation, then perhaps other cities around the country would follow. The government might even ask for his help instead of demanding it and forcing him in a machine. They might want him to do the same with other cities or even other people threatening them.
Roman felt a small smile creep up on his face as he looked out at the city under his control.
What could he do next?
YOU ARE READING
Weaved Reality
Short StoryHis world is perfect. His world is everything he could hope for. His world is fake. A computer-generated prison in which to keep him sustained while the government runs experiments on his mind.
