The Art of Revolution; Section 1, Chapter 1
The Art of Revolution
Introduction :
This story takes place in the not so distant future, in the Province of Combia, in the capital city of San Ernesto. Though the time and place are works of fiction, they will be referenced from real locations, and all the problems are the simple predictions and forethoughts of the writer. Do not think this story to be that of doom, but one of realism and one that deals only in probability. As for the current situation, the Province of Combia is the leading power and influence with the Anthropomorphic Society; however, due to the rift between the "Xenos*" and the humans, and even the personal conflict within their government, a civil war is due for this great land. This is where we enter, on the outskirts of San Ernesto's former downtown, in the upper floor of an abandoned tenement building.
Part One, "The Days of Revelation": Chapter One, "Morning Methods"
It was now around 6:27 AM, April 14, the sun was just coming over the skyline of the buildings to the east. As it rose higher into the most clear sky it's warm and healing light flowed through the still, mostly asleep streets. With the normal routine's of the mostly Xenos populace now beginning its morning ritual with the light as a blessing of hope for a good day, and at the same time a curse to know things would just be as they were when all the heavy eyes fell to rest the nigh before. As the sunlight came over the eastern side of the three story tenement complex, it carefully crawled up the side as if cautious to who it may disturb but still unending in its barrage of rays. Soon it entered the window of the open gallery style room, that used up a portion of the upper two floors of the entire complex. With the dirty windows, yellow from years of abandoned time in which to gather all the grime of the world on itself, grudgingly allowed the sun's rays to pass into and illuminate the room.
With every inch filling with light, the many walls covered with art, posters of propaganda with their messages altered in different ways to comedic affect more than anything, and finally the clippings from papers that showed all the events of importance over the past ten years or so. Up the light went, stretching into th loft over looking the gallery, here was a setup sufficient of someone with few to no needs. With a mattress thrown to the ground and draped with covers acting as the bed, it was appropriately surrounded by wads of paper and stacks of sheets already and yet to be written upon. Here we find a wad of blankets, restlessly turning over and over on the worn mattress as its springs screeched soft cries of disdain, they didn't wish to be awoken either. With the sun not backing down, the warmth that filled the bat hidden beneath the sheets, prompted him to lift his head from the dark sanctuary he had made during the night with a large yawn. The bat was a lanky, muscle from laboring most his life defined his body, but the unwillingness to eat kept him very slim. With eyes ringed from pulling all-nighters, not at jobs, but for the only time of the day he was awarded any time to himself...the night.
"Mmm....mother fu....theres no way it can be morning yet." He said with a grunt or two, feeling as if he had only just fallen asleep a minute or so sooner. With eyelids parting, with effort to break the seal of sleep put on them, he began looking towards the ball of light he cursed so much. "Well...dreaming is over...up and at em' Che. Ya lazy bastard...", and with that he began the slow, yet almost ritualistic morning process he had for years. Simple list of events: waking up with a bit of cursing towards the sun and everything that contributed to his waking, followed by a fight to get the circulation going through him and then get out of the bed, followed by a small breakfast....which included any little scrap he could find lying around in the kitchen area below, and finally the morning workout and reapplying of the same clothes he wore the day before...given they weren't too dirty. He took a moment with everything situated, glancing around his disaster of a home at all the attempts at art that littered his walls; whether or not the various drawings were loved or enjoyed by anyone else who had seen them didn't matter, it always helped him to look over the works of the past. Finally, he turned and headed through the only door, and after a short glide over the old and broken stairs, it was straight out the front door of the whole building. With the cool morning air striking his face and making him shiver with the rush of being back out in the world, he was off to his jobs, it was time to make the days living.
The city is an orchestra of noise and commotion, it's always like this, thousands of anthros and humans moving together to try and make a peaceful life for them selfs as best they could. Here, in the capitol of the Xenos territory, was the place of greatest intrigue and boosted the largest influx of people to it than any other competitor. These buildings and streets were filled with all sorts of seekers and wanderers, all looking for something whether it be; intellectual, artistic, medical, or just the simple desire to better their lives. It was true, San Ernesto had slowly become not only the capitol of Combia, but also the capitol of advancement and diversity of all sorts. With the silent Che weaving through the crowds, listening and watching all the others go about their lives in manners much like his own, he couldn't help but analyze everything that he saw and felt.
"Bind hope, undying ambition, and broken dreams...that's what this city truly represents. Everyday more and more come to this place, looking towards it like a beacon of good fortune...but none ever look at everything, whole picture..." He turned his head to look to an alley across the crowded street to see yet another "interrogation" by the police of a citizen.
"People are paranoid...but what's worse the government's paranoid now. With all the rumors of civil unrest and a threat from the neighboring human provinces, everyone's caught up in propaganda and are all falling into the unbroken control of the Courts...and the Executive Judge." It was true that ties with humans had always be stressed, no one would ever doubted they may decide to take arms against Xenos, especially with envy of the success of San Ernesto to add to it. With all the fears of enemies outside the borders possibly planning against them, few ever took note of all the one's inside doing the same, or watch closely to all the policies and laws being passed recently. As it were everyone went on with their lives as best they could and hoped for a turn for the best to come around the corner any day now, and one of these hopeful people was Che's brother Seiris.
"Good morning brother, what made you take this route to work today...not like you to go the long way around." There, sitting at a table in front of a small coffee shop was Seiris, smiling as he sipped his drink with paper in hand. He always had a strange since of coolness and ease about him, never reacting to much to one thing or another, keeping the stoic smile as best he could. With a bit of shock and more even a bit of regret for taking this way now, Che answered the older bat.
"I got up early, figured I might have time to waste...but not that much, so I'll be on my way now." As he started to move away, his brother wouldn't allow him to escape that easy. Seriris gripped Che's thin arm with a tight, unyielding hold as he jerked him over the fence surrounding the cafe like it was nothing, bringing him whether he wanted or not, into conversation. Tossed into the seat like a small child, the lithe bat hated how his older sibling could pull off a move like that, and so, Che had a bit of grudging anger in his tone. "What's that for!? I said I didn't have that much time, I can't stay." With a large grin his brother cut him off, letting the waitress who suddenly appeared have a chance to ask what Che wanted, and looking to her with a slightly annoyed tone gave the order. Satisfied that he had won over his little brother, Seris soon spoke...bit too pleased with himself if you were to ask Che later.
"There, see, you were hoping I would buy you some food Che. When was the last time you ate...wait, never mind that, whens the last time you and me spent any time together?" It had been ages, no joke, since the two of them actually met face to face and sat together to enjoy any kind of pleasantries. Slouching in his seat as he had no response to his brothers observation, the sudden growling of Che's stomach only made things worse. Serirs won again, speaking excitedly."HA! I knew you hadn't eaten! So, what has my brother been up to in these trying times?" Che cringed a bit, sitting back up as he shift and slid in the chair to get comfortable, desperately wanting to escape, but knowing there's no chance of it since Seriris could always catch him since they were kids...he was trapped here.
"The same as every other person you see walking this street, working any job I can and making the best of it. Though that's easier said than down with these damn blackouts they order at night...no business will stay open after dark which just decreases the job count even more." With a smile Seiris listened, taking another sip as Che's food and drink was placed slowly down by the reptilian waitress, her and Che meeting eyes a moment before he turned back to his brother and the big bat's newly gained air of superiority.
"Mmm, shame, maybe now you see that you can't go to a college for just two years and expect to get anywhere anymore. I mean look at me..." God how Che hated this speech...of how he was a fool to leave school, and how his brother was a genius and due to his education was making such a successful career and name for himself. Breaking the tired monologue as soon as he could, the younger spoke up.
"Yea, well, I have my reasons for what I did...and even though I know your just looking out for me, you can give it a rest already. If I couldn't take care of myself by now then I would be dead, and since I'm not, I think it's safe to say I don''t need charity or even sympathy." Seiris just snickered and nodded, watching as Che began eating hungrily at the food presented to him.
"Ah, your right, my mistake little brother. I hope you can forgive me for trying to be there for a loved one, that was wrong of me...its obvious you weren't walking around hungry or anything." He said with a sarcastic tone, one that Che couldn't help but laugh a little to, and with his food nearly gone already Che smiled.
"Sorry, you know how I am in the morning...thanks for the food." With yet another nod, and now an even wider smirk with the acceptance of his gift the larger bat asked.
"Are you still living in that broken down building? You know that place was condemned for a reason, you need to be more careful in that dump. Oh, don't mention it, so just where are you working now then? And...why do you refuse every offer for a job I send your way?" With a long sip of his coffee, Che lowered the cup with a deep sigh of refreshment, looking up before retorting to the barrage of questions.
"Several, one unloading meat at the packaging plant, another at a nearby video store...though I'm not allowed to work all the time at that particular one, and I also bartend on Fridays and sometimes weekends in a local den*." Hearing all of this, the Seriris almost seemed a bit impressed.
"You...really doing all that...sure have changed a lot from your lazy ways now haven't you. Which reminds me, hows the art thing you kept going on about last time we met, any luck there?" This stopped the restless Che cold as he finished his cup and reached for his satchel with a groan of impatience and the look of hurried annoyance returning.
"Sorry Seriris, I need to get going, it really was good seeing you...thanks for the meal." As he leapt the fence and began to walk he could hear the other yell after him,
"Che! If you need to talk or ever need hep, you know where to find me right?" Without responding with anything more than a simple lifting of his hand and a wave backwards he moved on. Once again back in the streets, he took to his analysis again, with the added thought of his brother.
"It seems on the surface that the chances for success are just as great as ever, but with so many struggling still...is the success we see authentic? Maybe one day something will come to straighten it all out for me, for everyone." Continuing on his way to work, he was completely unaware of the danger lurking, literally around the next corner.
*Xenos: The shortened name of a Greek philosopher who was focused on confronting his societies obsessiveness with anthropomorphic views. Claiming they used it to bring them closer to their gods at every chance.
*Den: This is the anthro communities' idea of a bar, there's little to no difference, maybe the one important fact is that every and all dens offer places for visitors to stay. It's mostly due to the communities hopes to promote togetherness and help with improving social life with all its citizens. Whatever can be done to make society peaceful after all.
END