The Government

Cardiff, Wales – Day 8778.

Sandra awoke. Her eyes slammed open as she looked upon the clean, white, sterile environment she lived in. Her quarters only contained the essentials – that’s all that’s needed. Why would anyone want anything else. Buzz – the ring of the Qunva sounded as Sandra made her way out into the equally sterile exterior of the Cardiff dome. Naturally, she walked down one of the many alike-corridors to get to her work in the mines just 43 janm away. Only a short walk was necessary, she was lucky, her quarters were placed close to her place of work – most people with a rank of 475 end up at quite a distance as to purposely inconvenience them.

Buzz – the ring of the Qunva sounded once more and Sandra speeded up only to walk straight into another workman, who also happened to hold her rank of 475, which was odd as he seemed to be walking in the opposite direction to her – away from the mines.

“Oh my!” exclaimed the man in a state of excitement, “You’re Sandra Armstrong!” Sandra looked straight into his eyes. Is this man crazy? What’s so special about me? - she wondered, as he smiled.

“Yes,” she replied sharply, “What of it?” The man simply smiled back at her and spoke very softly, choosing his words precisely.

“Just remember Miss Armstrong, sleep will change everything. Try to live without it – I’ll be here in 3 days,” he simply told her and then walked off – just like that. Sandra then walked on, she’d be late for work if she didn’t hurry.

Cardiff, Wales – Day 8781.

Although at first Sandra thought her encounter with the man was a mind game, a trick, she couldn’t help dwell on it. Was it even real? If so, was he crazy? What did he mean by don’t sleep? This all entered Sandra’s mind and must have made quite the impression as that night, Sandra didn’t sleep. The next night, Sandra didn’t either and the next, not a single wink. She didn’t know what it was, but for some reason, she trusted him.

Buzz – the ring of the Qunva sounded and Sandra set off for work just like she had done for most of her life. She exited her quarters and walked down the sterile corridor and there waiting for her right at the end of the corridor was the man. She walked up to him, nervous, and he began talking.

“How are you feeling?” he asked.

“Tired,” Sandra replied bluntly, “I have slept in 36 hours.”

“Now listen very carefully, Miss Armstrong,” he said as he began walking, Sandra following on, “My name is Caed Forden Allen-Smythe and I am a member of the United Planets Resistance Group.”

“The what?” Sandra exclaimed. She didn’t understand a word of what he said. Resistance Group – what doesn’t that mean?

“The Resistance Group has had many leaders in the past. None however have been better than Sandra Armstrong.”

“Wait, what?” she said in astonishment, “You’ve got to be joking.”

“The government, they changed your memories. You are not who you think you are!” he insisted.

“I am Sandra Julia Armstrong and I am a Welsh citizen of the Government and the Planet Earth!” she shouted, a bit too loud for comfort.

“Sandra, you were born and raised on Mars, at the age of 14 you joined the Resistance against the government. You fought them until last year when they captured you, wiped your mind and placed you here in Cardiff! Sandra, your life is a lie. We need you. The Resistance needs you. Remember Sandra! There are still fragments in there,” he told her will all the will he had left.

“The government do us good, the government are for humanity – Mars, other planets, it’s just an urban legend,” recited Sandra as if it had been implanted in her memory. Allen-Smythe looked at her in failure as she took out of her pocket and alarm which sounded at a remarkable high pitch, notifying every 475-490 citizen in Cardiff. Not long after three guards in all black, leather uniforms approached them and asked Sandra what the problem was.

“He’s Caed Forden Allen-Smythe and he is a member of the Resistance!” she shouted out as loud a possible. Allen-Smythe looked at her in disgust. How could she do this and then he couldn’t look any longer – or do anything else. He was dead. He had been shot down by one of the guards.

“Resistance Scum,” one guard said as they walk away, leaving the dead body in the middle of the corridor as a sign to anyone else.

Sandra didn’t know if he was telling the truth or not. All she knew is that she is a loyal citizen of the government.