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Citizen Jay
The theatre seats were packed with citizens. I let the curtain fall back into place and shook out my sweaty hands.
“I can do this,” I said to myself.
“Get out there!” my assistant whispered fiercely, waving her clipboard at me urgently.
I took a deep, steadying breath, and stepped out on to the stage. Everyone was staring at me, waiting for me to make a move, to say something, to do something, anything.
“Gentlemen,” I began. All those years of shouting at my friends on the soccer fields was finally paying off. I spoke loudly and firmly, making sure to enunciate each word as clearly as I could. “Thank you for your patience. I am sure you are all wondering why you’ve been asked to be here tonight.”
They eyed me critically, the older men particularly. They weren’t used to being addressed by a woman, especially one as young as myself. I clenched my fists, letting the pain of my nails digging into my palms drive me.
“Commander Williams is aware of what you have done. He knows you’ve been taking supplies off the compound and trading with the Outsiders on the other side of the wall. He has assured me that disciplinary action will be taken and has tasked me with the responsibility of seeing it carried out.
“For those of you that have traded essential supplies such as clothing and soaps, you will be sent to the perimeter for one week to help eliminate the Screechers. Without. Your ear plugs. They are being confiscated from your barracks as we speak. We are all aware that the Screechers have been flying onto the compound, but if we close our ears to their cries, how can we repent for the sins that helped create these vile creatures in the first place. Lieutenant Savage will be overseeing this assignment.”
The Screechers were vicious creatures, bred in some insane scientist’s lab. They resembled a cross between an eagle and a bat, with the ability to scream like a woman being tortured. It was a haunting sound that was impossible to ignore. His justification for experimenting on animals was flimsy at best. He claimed that he was creating them to drive the enemy soldiers so crazy that they’d willingly surrender, but no one ever truly believed him. He was executed years ago for a long list of crimes, including animal cruelty and misuse of military funds, but before he was arrested, he let the Screechers out to wreak havoc on what was left of the free world. Now, it was a constant battle to keep them away from the compound.
The sneers from some of the men were almost enough to make me lose my nerve. I would be no one’s friend by the time I was done here today.
“For those of you that have traded food to the Outsiders, you will be sent to the composting depot to relieve the workers for two weeks. I am well aware that the depot stinks very badly. You will not be granted leave from this assignment until the full two weeks have been completed. Lieutenant Franklyn will be overseeing this assignment.
“And for those of you that have dared trade weapons to the Outsiders, you will be sent to the Outer Wilds to assist in the razing of the dead forests for three weeks.”
The...
“I can do this,” I said to myself.
“Get out there!” my assistant whispered fiercely, waving her clipboard at me urgently.
I took a deep, steadying breath, and stepped out on to the stage. Everyone was staring at me, waiting for me to make a move, to say something, to do something, anything.
“Gentlemen,” I began. All those years of shouting at my friends on the soccer fields was finally paying off. I spoke loudly and firmly, making sure to enunciate each word as clearly as I could. “Thank you for your patience. I am sure you are all wondering why you’ve been asked to be here tonight.”
They eyed me critically, the older men particularly. They weren’t used to being addressed by a woman, especially one as young as myself. I clenched my fists, letting the pain of my nails digging into my palms drive me.
“Commander Williams is aware of what you have done. He knows you’ve been taking supplies off the compound and trading with the Outsiders on the other side of the wall. He has assured me that disciplinary action will be taken and has tasked me with the responsibility of seeing it carried out.
“For those of you that have traded essential supplies such as clothing and soaps, you will be sent to the perimeter for one week to help eliminate the Screechers. Without. Your ear plugs. They are being confiscated from your barracks as we speak. We are all aware that the Screechers have been flying onto the compound, but if we close our ears to their cries, how can we repent for the sins that helped create these vile creatures in the first place. Lieutenant Savage will be overseeing this assignment.”
The Screechers were vicious creatures, bred in some insane scientist’s lab. They resembled a cross between an eagle and a bat, with the ability to scream like a woman being tortured. It was a haunting sound that was impossible to ignore. His justification for experimenting on animals was flimsy at best. He claimed that he was creating them to drive the enemy soldiers so crazy that they’d willingly surrender, but no one ever truly believed him. He was executed years ago for a long list of crimes, including animal cruelty and misuse of military funds, but before he was arrested, he let the Screechers out to wreak havoc on what was left of the free world. Now, it was a constant battle to keep them away from the compound.
The sneers from some of the men were almost enough to make me lose my nerve. I would be no one’s friend by the time I was done here today.
“For those of you that have traded food to the Outsiders, you will be sent to the composting depot to relieve the workers for two weeks. I am well aware that the depot stinks very badly. You will not be granted leave from this assignment until the full two weeks have been completed. Lieutenant Franklyn will be overseeing this assignment.
“And for those of you that have dared trade weapons to the Outsiders, you will be sent to the Outer Wilds to assist in the razing of the dead forests for three weeks.”
The...
