Democracy is Dead

Chapter Fifteen

"Throughout humanity's history, our right to vote has been hard fought for."

Athena was back in Democracy for Beginners. Last week's gory retelling of the revolutions in France meant that this was the most well attended lecture Athena had been to all year. Even Cress had been looking forward to it.

Ajax was standing calmly at the front, seemingly oblivious to how crowded the lecture hall was. He was back in pink again: a raspberry striped shirt and pale blush jumper.

Athena had seen Sephy enter the room in her customary black, but she was sitting beside Cress today. Her notebook and pen were out; she was ready to concentrate.

"However, one of the most dramatic stories; the one that sparked the revolution which led to our current system, occurred in 2030. Well, that was the year the fighting started, at any rate. The movement towards revolution had begun many years before that, building steadily over time until it reached an explosive climax in the summer of 2030."

Athena settled back into her seat, letting Ajax's words wash over her like a twisted bedtime story.

"Leaders all of the world were growing increasingly corrupt. They gave too much power to banks and made laws which kept other powerful nations happy instead of their own people. The cost of primary and secondary education skyrocketed, with poorer families unable to afford even basic classes. Coupled with extortionate healthcare fees, only the rich were living close to comfortably. Government money was spent on bureaucracy, advertising campaigns, press conferences and, most grating of all, political vacations." Athena made a few notes on her page, trying to shake how familiar Ajax's warning of bureaucracy and advertising campaigns was starting to sound.

"Political bills were only put forward by those prepared to pay a hefty fee for them. The world had become the plaything of the super rich, as more and more ridiculous laws were passed: slashing corporation tax while eradicating benefits. The people needed to act, or lose everything.

"A protest was organised to run simultaneously in countries across the globe. It was supposed to be peaceful. But, as is the case with most protests, it didn't stay that way." His voice was sombre; it had lost the excitement it usually carried when he was about to tell them something gory.

"In London, the army arrived to contain the crowds, but something went tragically wrong. Accounts differ as to exactly what happened: some claim that the protesters started to hurl bottles at the soldiers, while others maintain that it was military brutality - with guns raised before the protesters had been given a warning. But somehow a four year old boy was caught in the cross fire and fatally wounded."

He paused, to allow for the sharp intakes of breath and gasps that this statement prompted. A four year old? Killed? Athena clutched her pen tightly but didn't lower it to her page, too absorbed in Ajax's words to take notes.

"The British people saw red and revolted against the politicians. Mob rule commenced: uncontrollable savagery. Attacks on government officials; the destruction and looting of government property. That was the downfall of the original number 10 Downing Street - a location I am sure most of you are rather familiar with.

"Feed glasses sent images of the boy's body, broken and bullet riddled, across the globe, sparking similar acts of violence worldwide. Armies fractured, with some soldiers siding with their friends and families, and others with their superiors. As the blood-lust of the people grew, so did the death toll. Earth's population was decimated; we number a third of what we did before the time now referred to as 'The Dark Years'. It was a period of utter chaos, in which not only politicians and bureaucrats lost their lives - often in grisly, public executions - but millions of ordinary people too: some caught in the crossfire, others killed more indirectly; through food and fuel shortages and the overcrowding, and in some cases, destruction of hospitals."

I can't even imagine it, can you? - Cress

No. It sounds terrifying. - Athena

I'm so pleased we don't have to worry about that now. - Cress

Their system may have had its flaws, but was a rose-tinted freedom a small price to pay for the security and safety it brought with it? Surely nothing was worth the violence of the Dark Years.

"But, I'm sure it will come as no surprise to all of you who are sat here now, in a stable, secure society, that the Dark Years did come to an end, eventually," Ajax continued.

"There were many false starts to the reformation of civilisation. A few leaders of varying political beliefs attempted to bring their countries and the world to heel. But the people were not willing to submit to the governance of a few. Power corrupted, no matter what a person's background was, or what they promised to do."

Power always corrupts.

"Eventually, a group in Norway attempted to establish a direct democracy, using the readily available technology from the feed glasses to let everyone have a say in what the country decided to do. It was a last, desperate attempt at healing our ruptured world. And it worked. With no figureheads, or need for publicity and empty promises, the people could be free to look after themselves, as a collective. The concept spread, adapted and morphed into the system we have today. New boundary lines were established, with countries formed on mutual political beliefs. New Britain is very different to the 'United Kingdom' that existed before the Dark Years, which still included Scotland and the Republic of Cornwall. As direct democracy spread across the globe, peace came with it."

There were a few cheers from the crowd at this; whoops of celebration at our success; our supreme humanity. But Ajax wasn't finished.

"Power is a dangerous thing; it corrupts almost everyone who comes into contact with it - be they the 'leader' of a country, or the CEO of a business. We may not have politicians, but we do still have leaders. And, as at the foundation of our democracy, it's up to us - the people, the voice - to keep them in check."

Ajax paused for a moment to let his words sink in.

Ajax is a master of the art of subtlety. Half of our recruitment comes from this module. - Sephy

I can see why. - Athena

Does that mean it's working on you? We have another meeting next week if so. - Sephy

While Athena considered her response, another message came through, this time from Cress:

Castor wanted me to ask you what's going on. You haven't reported anything new in over a week now.

Unease prickled down her spine. She still wasn't sure she could face Dyo again. And she wasn't sure she could spy on someone as welcoming as Sephy. It didn't feel right. But nor did letting down Cress, or the democracy she knew it was so important to protect.

I'm working on it, she replied to Cress, before telling Sephy:

I'll think about it. I'm not sure I'm ready yet.

"Thank you all for coming. For the next few weeks, we will be looking in detail at some of the key moments in the Dark Years, so come prepared for blood and gore. I recommend saving breakfast for afterwards - some of the stories I'll be telling you are best heard on an empty stomach." And with that, mini chaos descended on the hall as students rushed to leave, in search of tea and gossip on the frozen streets of New London.

{Thanks for reading this far. Please let me know what you think of Ajax's lecture and his depiction of the Dark Years in the comments, and, as always, vote if you enjoyed this chapter!}