Save the Escape

Never Been So High

I walked into my office early in the morning, a pile of work awaited me and I could already feel my sleep schedule shifting. It was unsettling not being able to sleep in as often as I used to.

I hung my jacket over my chair and prepared to go over a ton of work. A lot of immediate changes had to be made to government expenditures, notably issuing subsidies for the growing population invested in media. The media was one of the few sectors in the country that was mostly privatized legally anyway. It was important to leave the media majorly in the hands of the private citizens, they knew what entertained best and what entertains provides the most efficient distractions.

But it was even more important to privatize more of the industry as power has been passed on for the first time in the country. A bad image would cause unwanted destabilization. And how do you avoid that? Provide government subsidies they become dependent on. The threat of it being withdrawn is surprisingly more effective for putting now upstarts in the sector than death threats are.

Giving these addictive subsidies allows the government to appear liberal and forward-thinking with democracy. A sense of autonomy is imparted with this little bump in the Annual budget.

I take a look at the paper on my desk and sigh. The transfer form-so to speak- of one of the larger subsidiaries of the Schelarian's Peoples Entertainment and Media Authority (SPEMA) to one Miss Aina Leriva.

Usually in privatization, I, the government would sell controlling shares to the public, basically holding an auction. But this was simply a transfer of control, in truth if I left it all to Miss Leriva without any support in the form of subsidies or periodic investments, it would collapse within the quarter regardless of how efficient she was. I would still hold much power over her interests and actions with the company even after she'd begun generating revenue worth going into debt for.

I shrugged and signed the papers. Even if she went rogue, she'd quickly be declared a spy from our hostile neighbour; Madagascar. I set it aside for later in the day I'd call her in to sign as well.

There were other matters to attend to as well. Particularly Moscow's ecstatic sounding response to the ambassador I sent but I was less than content with the fact that I had to send an ambassador in the first place.

In a previous life, one where I'd chosen to remain, President, my relations with the Russian government were...exciting. Their President at the time Schelarian relations with them had begun to improve was a humble deputy to the minister of foreign affairs I'd befriended over several cups of tea.

I can't say I didn't have a hand or two in his rise to power. After all, he was the one who kept me company in the kremlin whilst the current President made a mockery of me, keeping me waiting for hours on end. Although it wasn't all for such a petty reason as stealing his reelection, negotiations for more advanced military equipment than they'd been giving broke down.

But with my friend, Andrei Averyanov winning the Presidential elections with my...heavy funding, I quickly gained access to the best military equipment Schelar had seen in decades. And for free too.

Though I had a feeling my trip to Russia would turn out more or less the same as it had in my past life, I didn't want to dedicate so many funds to Andrei's campaign again. Though it certainly earned me one of the most powerful allies, I didn't want to put in so much effort into a gambit I wasn't sure wouldn't be erased the moment I die. Though, the same could be said for everything I do.

"Do you want that insecurity to disappear, Hasina?"

I immediately reach for the gun underneath my table and pull the trigger, startled by the sudden appearance of a person.
"Who are you!?" I demand as I point my handgun at the man...woman? Seated on my couch. Carefully I reach for the panic button set underneath my table and press it.

Something strange happens as I do though. The sun goes down leaving darkness to prevail, I peek out my window still wary of the person seated in front of me and I see people hurriedly walking backwards, the gardener's clippings being undone as plants seemed to grow larger. I gasp in realization and look to the clocks and to my surprise the time still held true, they weren't moving backwards.

"I think from your little observation of your surroundings, you know who I am." It said, its voice was...liquid.
I set my gun onto the table, whatever weapon I had wouldn't work on whatever this...thing was. I walk towards it and take a seat on the couch opposite to it. On closer inspection, it had no gender, no face, nobody, no limbs. It didn't exist...yet it did. Looking stunningly beautiful as it did so.

I had no idea how to comprehend what I was looking at...IF I was looking at anything even. Its shape existed in non-existence if that made any sense. Best put, it looked like the personification of a train of thought; sometimes existing, moving rapidly and changing form as it did.

"What are you?" I ask, appalled, marvelled, stunned, honoured and scared all at the same time.
It seemed to chuckle, at least, that's what I got from its liquidating voice and sporadic morphing. "I am sorry, Hasina. I know being so close to you is affecting your senses. Human brains aren't built to understand or fully comprehend what we are."

"We? There are more of you?" I ask, the words spilling out of my mouth like I was in a rush to speak out all that was running through my mind. I felt intoxicated.

"I am what is causing your rebirths. Now do not interrupt," My eyes widen as the being had clearly read my intentions, "I know you want more than anything to have a death, a final one. But you have your uses."

It went on to explain what it meant by uses, "You serve a purpose to me on this planet. No, I am not a God. I am an extradimensional being. I think this wording is more native to you. Your dimension has been subject to many machinations by my kind. One of the most current breakthroughs-yes I suppose I am an Alien- is time"
It continued to read my mind as it spoke. For some reason, I had no more will to interrupt. Just listen.

"You are, in a sense, a pet project. Can a primitive lifeform successfully unite the planet under its rule, safely, within its lifetime? This was the question. You are the project. We are permitted limited interference but I want to get this over with and win. You have been through so many lives, it seems your will to conquer the world dwindled a little each time."

I sluggishly nod. The first time I'd been in charge before I realized I was on a loop. I had every intention to take over the world. And if not the world. Then at least one continent.

"So, I will...give you...myself some assistance perhaps. There are a number of things I can help you with. Just choose what would be essential in getting the planet under you."

"Viz fontez wake ny kence!" my words were terribly slurred but what I meant to say was; This doesn't make any sense. It truly doesn't. I would be more inclined to believe this was a dream rather than a real-life happening. Especially giving my minds less than stable state.

"Ah, we were warned about what our direct presence would do to a lifeform as lowly as yours. Your faculty centre must feel like it's being gently ironed. I would love to see what happens to you when I do not leave but there is a hundred per cent chance it will lead to your death and we've only been granted ten tries. Can't have you wasting your...last life."

The being left its place on the couch and stood by my desk, "I will leave some answers here. As well as a list of what I can help you with. Interact with it. This may be the last time we communicate like this so do not fail me."

I blinked and the paradox walking was gone. But my mind and body still felt gently ironed. I let myself fall asleep.