Appropriate Time

Ch. 10 Rage against the machine

Face it, the system is rigged, and it's rigged against us.
Eric Alterman

Cuin was reading an online article on the plane back home.

Will the Moon be the answer? By Anonymous

Western post-apocalyptic society is changing society. Many changes are associated with a crisis nowadays concerning the legitimacy of the meta stories in our times. Post-apocalyptic culture challenges the universal concepts of truth, advancement, and improvement of modernization. Its emphasis is on the temporal agreement in local stories and practices.

As for interacting men and women, we construe and deconstrue meaning in our conversations and our practices. The people face challenges concerning Rich and Poor, the so-called Haves and Haves Not–dichotomy, enlightened dictatorship, and the changed relationship with our great provider the Sun and sibling the Moon. Artificial Intelligence has to be the answer to many problems, according to most governments.

However, social structures have collapsed. For most people, life is a harsh struggle, facing food shortages every day, the challenge of being marginalized in today’s narrative. The fear and angst of an unsafe world are predominantly seen through the rich and fortunate's eyes. They have, however, disengaged and lived their lives accordingly. Post-Cultural materialism is the main goal of the individual.

After the Great Pandemic of 2020-2025, the world has been divided into two categories. Revolt and violence are inevitable. Chaos is met with chaos.

Will the Moon people have the answers to engage in a world where love, peace, equality, and worth are still noteworthy concepts?

Just when Cuin allowed his mind to wander off into an intellectual dispute with the blogger, the plane made an unexpected turn. It was an airbag! People were making noises; some kids were screaming.

The three travelers didn’t blink an eye. They were used to flying an airplane. Instead, they ordered another gin and tonic, put on their headphones, and listened to their favorite music.

Crypto didn’t even bother to look up. He slept through the whole trip, dreaming of delicious bones, no doubt.

They left Daphne at her apartment and took off to Cuin’s house in Westlake.

Crypto had the backseat to himself and did what he was programmed to do, sleep it off. Sphynx, the turtle, sat in a box in the back. Both men were chatting and hitting it off. A new friendship was born.

How to stay low and not attract attention? That was the main question they had to solve.

“I think I am going to retire from the job, Cuin proclaimed. "It’s not that I enjoyed it very much, but it paid the bills, and I was good at what I did. Now I am 60 years old, and I think I call it quits. So, I have word around through my channels that the shop is closed from this moment on. That would be the least of my problems.

"The next thing is to hack into the system to erase both our files within the government’s logs. That should be easy for me. I know how to get in, still have log codes and stuff from years ago. I bet they never bothered to change passwords and stuff. I think I can do that as well.

"Then we are off the radar”.

“That suits me fine,” Thruce acknowledged eating a banana.

“I’ve been thinking as well. I try to stay away from pretty widows with money. I can’t take up that shit anymore. Not if they are dying on me. You see, I liked Carmen a lot. It shook me up; she committed suicide. That was never my intention. So, I retire as well. It’s not that I need the money. I am good for life”.

“Me too,” Cuin noted, concentrating on traffic.

“When we are at your place, I have to think of a reason to be there. Just for your neighbors and stuff. What will be a good cover for both of us?”

“Well,” Cuin said, “you could be my long-lost brother I recently connected with again. That’s a good enough story. I was adopted, you know, so I recently found out I had a biological younger brother aka you”.

“Good enough for me, bro.” Thruce swallowed his last piece of fruit and threw out the peel.

Behind them, a car swayed from left to right to avoid the slippery product.

After settling into Cuin’s home, the two men ordered pizza and beer and sat in the living room, chatting. The fireplace was lit; it was warm and cozy. Cuin had the curtains drawn.

“The system sucks anyway,” Thruce formulated. “I am glad I go underground because they are bad for the people anyhow. I know I am rich and all, but I always had a soft spot for those Have-nots. They starve to death in the streets if people like us don’t shoot them first. That woman the other day with the child you told me about, gruesome! Just for stealing a loaf of bread. The government is to blame for that”.

“Right.” Cuin nodded. “The system is to blame for everything that goes wrong these days. The revolution is nearing; I can feel it”.

“Don’t you want to be a part of the revolt of 2541?” Thruce asked? “I would. I am an anarchist at heart. I would love to beat the system, make a mockery out of it. Help the people to get on their feet again, to give hope”.

“Let’s start a movement,” Cuin lulled. His fourth beer tasted excellent indeed.

“We can be vigilante warriors,” Thruce opted, with enthusiasm. “We are rich enough to start something, do good while keeping a low profile in real-time. Let’s be Mister Blackman and White, his helper. We can set up shop from here. Your study can function as headquarters. HQ Westlake!”

“I like the sound of that,” Cuin agreed. “I am Mister Blackman, you are White the helper. We can form a movement for the better”.

“I’ll drink to that.” Thruce ate the last slice of pizza and burped loudly.

That evening they finalized their plans and did some work online.

It was the appropriate time to start something new. Something with lasting consequences. Something good.

Later they sat in the yard outside, looking at the Moon and the stars.

“Did you know,” Thruce was lurking his cigar with great contentment,” that one of my ancestors went to the Moon in 2435? For all I know, I could have family over there, a clan by the name of The Unwell Everton. We never knew what had become of him; of course, the government shut all communication with the Moon one hundred years ago”.

“I heard they opened up research a couple of decades back. All hush-hush”. Cuin waved at the ball in the sky.

“I heard there is an underground movement.”

“From the Moon?”

“Well, they say they are connected.”

“Now, that’s interesting. Let’s find them”.

“Let’s!”

WC:1141