2112
Based on the song “2112" by Rush

Waking is never pleasant. Still less when you awake to the same thing every day. This morning I awoke, like every morning, to the sirens of the Temple. It is not that the sirens are intrinsically unpleasant to listen to, but when one has heard them at the exact same time every day for one’s entire life, they become rather burdening to hear. You do not, as you might think, get used to them over time so you can sleep through them, but every morning, they seem to have a new vigor and new level of annoyance. After the five minutes of alarm, the sirens go off and are replaced by the sounds of the day. Water machines turn on in the building and all over the city, power cables are activated, cars are started, and there will be no peace until late tonight, save for one hour in the afternoon. The window shade is soon lifted and a blaze of sunshine greets me. This may be pleasant to one who has seen something other than sun in the daytime, but for me and the rest of the population in Megadon it was simply the way it was. I had heard that the sun actually rises and sets, but no one has ever seen such things occur. My friend Jon told me that he used to try to see the sun rise by getting up before the Temple sirens, but the window shades and doors were always locked. I had told him that the sunrise and sunset were probably radioactive and we were being protected from an hour of gamma rays sweeping the city. But the window was now open and the sounds of the city poured in. I had two hours before Temple School. I arose and went for my wash in the water closet. I closed the glass door, fitted the air tube to my face, and pressed the wash button. Water immediately flooded into the box and engulfed me. I let the currents of the water clean me and a peace settled over me. In the water there was no noise, just a heavy sort of silence. I knew the water was imbued with the right chemicals and vitamins my skin needed so I had to do nothing on my own; just breathe and float. But in five minutes it was over. The water drained so fast that it seemed to drop me on the floor; the blowers turned on and I was dry before I knew it. I dressed and looked at the time. I had an hour and a half. I decided to pay a visit to the cave before heading to the Tube.
Outside my dwelling there is a cliff. When I was five, I had discovered a path leading down to a cave behind a waterfall of machined water. I climbed down and went in. Among other things I kept there a couch, a desk, my Temple Disc (TD) collection, and a Templevision set. At the back is an inscription on the stone wall which I assume to be a relic of ancient times. I believe it to be a message left by the elder race to give hope to us in the present. It says simply, “Save 30-70% off during Christmas Sale.? I don’t know what it means, but it must have something to say about the people of long ago. I only had a few minutes before I had to catch the Tube. I looked around the cave and noticed a crack in the floor towards the back near the inscription. I walked over and prodded the ground with my foot. The floor collapsed and my leg fell in. I quickly pulled out and ran back up to my lodging; I would explore that hole tonight. I grabbed my school tablet and put it in my belt pouch then ran to the Tube station at the end of the block.
As I climbed into the Tube car, I saw two of my friends sitting at the far end. I made my way towards them quickly before the car started moving.
“Good morning, Martin,? Kathryn greeted.
“Hi Kate, Jon,? I replied, “How was your night? Sorry I couldn’t come.?
“Oh, TempleBot dueling isn’t all it’s cracked up to be,? said Jon.
“I thought you were going to Johann’s for a simulated battle between the Tetracons and the Syrinx Legions,? I queried.
“We were going to, but Johann’s is closed for some serious renovations. He’s going to get a CyberLupin hunting ground and an Antimatter Max game,? said Kate excitedly. She and Jon went on like this for a while until the city came into view. Then we all fell silent. Megadon is the largest city on the planet we still call Earth and every time I see its entire expanse I sit in a stunned awe. Most prominent is the Temple. This solar system has over eight hundred Temples, but the Temple of Megadon is by far the largest and grandest. In its plainest form, I guess it would be shaped like a pyramid, but it is so covered with towers and spires that its fundamental shape is unrecognizable. From the summit of its topmost tower flies a gigantic holograph flag bearing the Red Star of the Solar Federation. The Federation was composed of the survivors of the Galactic War which destroyed many planets and annihilated entire populations. There has been peace since 2062 when the survivors banded together under the Red Star. Now it is 2112 and all facets of life are controlled from the high grey walls of the Temple. All our music, books, entertainment, work, and education are regulated by the Temples of Syrinx and the priests therein. No one knows how to become a priest, but every child hopes to be selected from among the millions of students of the Temple schools. The massive walls of the Temple draw closer as I think of how my life might be without such things. I pity the elder race that they had enough freedom to destroy themselves. The Syrinx has created a safe environment for all remaining worlds. We have no weapons and there is no crime; not a single murder or theft or rape has occurred in over fifty years.
The Temple school is an impressive building near the Temple itself, but much lower. As the Tube car comes up to the platform, we all stand. We are deposited to our exact level by means of an elevator which recognizes you and then report to Assembly where we will be addressed by the Priests of Syrinx. Jon and I sit together with the other boys of our level while Kate joins the girls. On the other side of me sits Bremmen, a small boy with correctional lenses. I leaned over to Jon and asked, “Do you want to come to the cave tonight; I may have found another relic.?
“What do you mean??
“Well, this morning I was down in the cave and I almost fell through the floor. I think there’s a secret room down there.?
“I’ll come if I can. What about Kate??
“I’ll talk to her in Geometry.?
We had no more time to talk because the lights dimmed and the Priests filed onto the platform led by Father Brown, the High Priest of the Temple of Megadon. The Priests began to chant the chant that we had heard every day since coming to Temple school. Father Brown sang the verses.
“We’ve taken care of everything,? Father Brown sang, “The words you read, the songs you hear, and the pictures that give pleasure to your eyes.?
“We are the Priests,? chanted the Priests, “Of the Temples of Syrinx.?
Father Brown went on, “One for all and all for one; we work together as commons sons. Never need to wonder how or why.?
“The great computers,? sang the Priests, “fill our hallowed halls.?
“Look around this world we’ve made; equality our stock and trade. Come and join the brother hood of Man.?
“We are the Priests of the Temples of Syrinx.?
“Oh what a nice contented world! Let the banners be unfurled! Hold the Red Star proudly high in hand!?
“And the gifts of Life are held within these walls!?
The song ended and we all sat in a trance. The song always does that no matter how many times you hear it. The Priests filed off and we flooded silently out the doors.
From the Assembly all students are to report to their day rooms where all classes are held. We are schooled in Maths, Astronomy, Temple, Biological Science, and Literature. For each class we plug into machines which connect our minds to the room, enabling us to experience our subject digitally. The teachers are Priests. Or at least they seem to be Priests. Our teacher is Brother Green, a youngish looking fellow with sandy hair, who takes up no physical space in the room. We used to debate whether he was a holographic projection of a real man or simply a function of the system of super-intelligent computers. Our first class is always Maths and the current subject is Geometry. Before plugging in, I took out my tablet and messaged her.
“Hey,? I said.
“What’s up?? she asked back.
“Want to come to the cave after school today??
“Why would I want to do that??
“I think I found a secret room.?
“In the cave??
“Well, under the cave really.?
“How does that work??
“Look, do you want to see or not? Jon’s going to be there.?
“I guess I’ll come. Oh, look; here comes Brother Green.?
And in walked the projection of a man in voluminous red and grey robes.
“Good morning, children,? his voice was soft and calm, “please plug into your Educator 3000s and we’ll start Geometry off with a little game.?
And so the day glided by as we stayed plugged in seeing numbers and triangles fly about in Geometry; stars and planets whirled about, illuminated, exploded and even spoke to us in Astronomy; we were taken through the halls and rooms of the Temple; forests and animals surrounded us in Biological Science; and books, old authors, and quill pens darted this way and that in Literature.
By the time we were told to unplug and Brother Green, now dressed in high boots, riding pants, a grey jacket, and a red scarf, floated out the door the sun had set and the light of day had been replaced with the light of night. All the streets are illuminated with magnesium based indirect lights, thus obscuring any stars you might see through an occasional gap in the clouds. The Megadon day was far from over as the Tube car sped back toward the Eastern Quarter where I live. At the stop, Kate, Jon, and I climbed out and headed straight for the cave. The winding path led down a steep cliff and eventually behind a waterfall of purified machine water which overlooked a reservoir a mile in diameter. The cave was indeed a secluded place if you sought a little peace from the structured turmoil of the city. We entered through an opening in the rock just to one side of the waterfall. The inside was pleasantly quiet. The waterfall cannot be heard as the waters of the reservoir are so far below; the sound of splashing does not reach you if you’re in the cave. I led them over to the crack in the floor. Upon exploring further, we found that a substantial part of the floor was wood covered over with dirt. We brushed the dirt away and revealed the old grey planks. We had no difficulty breaking them away until a large hole was made in the floor. I went to my tool box for a spotlight and shone the light into the hole.
“What can you see?? asked Kate who had stepped away from the edge.
“There’s a box or something,? said Jon who had come up next to me.
I leapt down into the hole. The room I found myself in was about six feet deep and the same dusty color as the rest of the cave. I looked at the object on the floor.
“It’s not a box. It’s just a piece of cloth covering something.?
I reached out to remove the cloth, but it crumbled away beneath my touch. So I just brushed the rest of the cloth off. There was a raised wooden frame with a wire screen covering another dark shaft. I lifted the screen off and shone the light into the darkness. It was just a few feet deep and at the bottom was a singularly strange shaped case. It was long and black; thin at one end but fat at the other. On the sides were smooth curving indentations. I reached in and grasped the handle. It did not crumble. I pulled the case out of the hole and examined it. There were three clasps of yellow colored metal holding the hinged lid closed.
“Open it up,? said Jon from above me.
“Wait, I’ll bring it up so we can have more light.?
I handed the case up to Kate and Jon helped me out of the little room. Once I was back up, I set the case on a table and proceeded to dust it off.
“What do you suppose is inside?? asked Kate.
“Probably nothing but dust by now,? replied Jon, “Or maybe just some old bones. I’ll bet it was a kind of coffin and we’ve discovered an old grave site.?
“What kind of person is this small?? I asked, indicating the size of the box; just over four feet.
“Maybe he was all blown to pieces and buried that way,? suggested Jon.
“Oooh, I don’t even want to think about it like that. It’s creepy,? said Kate, “Why don’t you just open the box and find out, Martin. If it’s bones, I swear I’m going to throw up.?
“Alright, but did you ever consider we might be desecrating something ancient and holy by doing this??
“What could possibly remain holy over such a long time?? asked Jon, “And even if we are desecrating, we’ve already broken into a room and stolen something out of it. If there’s some sort of curse on it then it’s already on us so I don’t see the point in not going all the way and reveling in our treasure or whatever. Now open it!?
“Ok then,? I replied with a little too much exasperation, “this is, after all what we came here for.?
I unlatched the latches and opened the box.
Instead of the dim grey I had expected, the glow of bright natural wood greeted my eye. I saw before me a strange yet beautiful thing. It was a wooden object with strings running almost the entire length; from the end of the neck to just past the hole in its fat flat body. I ran my hand across the smooth shiny surface of the thing, taking great care not to touch the strings as I lifted it out of the case as I knew they might be polarized or electrified for the functions of this delicate relic. I didn’t know what it was for, but obviously it had served some great purpose for the elder race if they had buried it like it was the body of an important man. As I held it, I noticed in the box were a few little triangular flat objects. I picked one up. Of course, I thought, these must be used to touch the strings safely. I slowly set the tool to the thickest string. Nothing happened. I suddenly remembered how I’d been taught how primitive the elder race was, so I plucked the string. I almost dropped the relic in surprise as a single deep note sounded through the cave. It seemed to come partly from the string and partly from deep inside the relic’s hollow body. As the echoes died out, I looked at the shocked faces of my friends and smiled. I strummed all the wires. They cringed at first, but then looked rather pleased as I produced the harmonious sounds.
“What can this strange devise be? When I touch it, it gives forth a sound. It’s got wires that vibrate and give music. What can this thing be that I’ve found??
Here I started to move my other hand along the wires on the neck, producing different sounds. I slowly accustomed my fingers to the sensation of the vibrating strings and started a pattern of notes and chords. It was slow at first, but I soon warmed to it and sped up the melody. I was amazed. I was making my own music. It was totally different from that of the Temples; livelier, richer, more organic, more human. As I tried different tunes on the instrument, it made me want to join in with my voice. “See how it sings like a sad heart and joyously screams out its pain?? I sang, the words somehow coming naturally to me, “Chords that build high like a mountain and notes that fall gently like rain.?
I finally stopped playing and we sat in silence for a while. “Wow,? said Kate, “I’ve never heard music like that before. It’s so, so… I don’t know how to describe it.?
“Alive?? suggested Jon.
“That’s it. It seems so much more alive and free.?
“Maybe we’ve hit upon something,? I advised, “Something that we’re missing now that the elder race had. If we could bring such music back to the people, think of what the world could become.?
“There’s only one way to do that,? said Jon, “You’d have to go to the Priests.?
“Then that’s what I’ll do. Tomorrow I’ll go before them and play my music. They’ll be wise enough to see what it could do.?
The next day was so much like all the other days of my life, but for the first time I was discontented with the city, school, my other friends. For the first time the Priests’ Song didn’t entrance me. My own music ran, climbed, fell, and danced through my mind all day, occupying all my thoughts. Finally the school day ended and I soon found myself in the Tube thundering towards the Temple, my treasure on the seat beside me. The Tube stopped at the Temple and I climbed out. The entrance to the Temple is in the form of a gigantic star. As I passed through, the star’s border as well as the circle around it lit up with red plasma light. I found myself in a small room for such a large door. The wall in front of me lit up, showing the vague shape of a face made of water and a voice spoke, “State your business,? it said in a cold tone.
“I wish to see the Priests.?
“All of them??
“Well, the head Priests I suppose.?
“All Priests are equal. There are none who could be called “head? or all of them could bear the title.?
“What about the High Priest? Isn’t he in charge of them all??
“The High Priest is not in charge of the Syrinx. All are equal.?
“Then how is he the High Priest??
“All Priests are equal. The High Priest is simply more equal than the others.?
“I see. In that case I’d like to talk to the Priests who represent the entire body of the Syrinx.?
“One cannot represent the thoughts and views of many. You will speak with the entire Syrinx of Megadon. Prepare your chant.?
With that, the wall went blank. I was frightened now. I had come with the idea of speaking with the High Priest and a few others, but now I was going to talk with their entirety, and there had to be thousands of Priests in a place as big as this.
When you speak to the Priests, you must speak in a rhythmic chant, or else you cannot expect them to take any notice of you. This is not because they would hear you; it is simply because that is the way it must be done. I decided to play my instrument and sing the Priests my arguments. I sat for a while mentally composing my song with sweaty palms for it takes a while to gather the entire Syrinx in a building like the Temple of Megadon. Finally, after what seemed an eternity, I heard some quiet sounds of machinery and the ceiling began to retract. I was just peering at the new ceiling a hundred feet above me when the wall in front of me, all hundred feet high of it, began to fade away. It did not really open or retract, it simply ceased to be there and I found myself in a gigantic hall, all grey steel and red lights. I had no recollection of actually going into the hall, but when I looked behind me, there was no sign of the antechamber I was just in. In front of me and on both sides in rows on innumerable steps like stands at a sports arena leading up to the ceiling sat the Priests of Syrinx. The High Priest sat in the very middle of the stands to my right. There was utter silence throughout the hall. I didn’t get the feeling that the Priests were unhappy or displeased at being interrupted in their work and called to assemble, they were simply there; dressed in robes half grey and half red. I knew it was up to me to say something, for if you come before the Syrinx with a matter, then you are expected to begin. I knelt on the floor and opened the relic’s case. I tuned it quickly and began to play; soft at first. Then I began my song.
“I know it’s most unusual to come before you so,? I sang, “but I’ve found an ancient miracle and I thought that you should know. Listen to my music and hear what it can do. There’s something here as strong as life; I know that it will reach you.?
I played on, but faster and louder, making the melody more complex. But just as I was building up to a finish, the entire assembly rose and all sang at once. The sound was deafening.
“Yes we know; it’s nothing new. It’s just a Waste of Time. We have no need for ancient way; our world is doing fine. It’s another toy that helped destroy the elder race of man. Forget about your silly whim; it doesn’t fit the plan.?
I was shocked. Instead of the grateful joy I had expected, they were words of rejection. Instead of praise I was receiving sullen denial. I couldn’t let this stand. Under my hands, the instrument burst forth into loud complex angry music. My hands felt hot.
“I can’t believe you’re saying these things just can’t be true! Our world could use this beauty; just think what we might do!?
My instrument blared out its rebellion as Father Brown stood and descended towards me. The reply was not quiet dismissal anymore, but wrathful expulsion.
“Don’t annoy us further! We have our Work to do! Just think about the average! What use have they for you!? Another toy that helped destroy the elder race of man! Forget about your silly whim! It doesn’t fit the plan!?
The strings broke and the relic went flying into the High Priest’s hand. He threw it upon the ground and I watched in shock as Father Brown ground my precious instrument into splinters beneath his feet. I found myself flying out the great star door as it blazed angrily at me. I landed on my back on the hard grey pavement. I lay for a while in disbelief. I lay there still as disbelief became despair.
I wandered home through silent streets as the Tube had shut down for the night. I reached my residence just as the sunrise warning was going up and the window shades were going down. I got in just as the door locked and sat down right there. I couldn’t understand why the Priests had rejected me. Why wouldn’t they want the people to make their own music? They had said that they already knew about such things. If they knew, were they purposefully keeping it secret? What many other things, then, were they keeping from our knowledge? For the first time I began to doubt the word of the Priests. I began to question the Syrinx’s choices and purposes. As a fitful sleep took me, I wondered what the life of the elder race was like and if it was really worse then mine.
I dreamed the dream for the first time that night. The dream which has been in my mind every since that night. I can see it even now in my mind’s eye. I stand atop a spiral stair where upon an oracle in shimmering blue and green robes confronts me. He leads my mind to centuries past. I see the beauty of sculptured cities, the work of gifted hands, gracing a strange and wondrous land. I see the hand of man arise with hungry mind and open eyes. I was overwhelmed by a sense of wonder and understanding as I saw a completely different way of life that the Solar Federation had long since destroyed. I saw now how meaningless life had become without these things; the pure free spirit of man revealed in the lives and works of that world. The oracle tells me this, “They left our planets long ago, but the elder race still learn and grow. Their power grows with purpose strong to claim the home where they belong. They will come home to tear the Temples down; home to change.?

***
I hadn’t left my cave now for three days. I cast my mind back over the events leading up to this day. I sat working those three days at sharpening a rock with another and with thoughts of death in my mind. I could no longer live under the control of the Solar Federation and its temples of bondage, but I knew not where to go. I could only hope that with my death I would pass into the world of my dream. The rock is sharp now, the only kind of weapon I have ever known. I knew from Science classes exactly where to cut and I did; three lengthwise cuts down each wrist. It hurt, but that was the point. I think about what my life might be in a world like I have seen. I couldn’t carry on this cold and empty life. My spirits are lonely in the depths of despair; my life blood spills over.
To my surprise I woke. I was not dead, but my surroundings were unfamiliar. I was in a room much like my own cave, but much larger and the walls were not grey, but jet black. The cave was lit with a warm yellow light and all around were other lights of blue and green. People I could not quite see were moving about the place and I had a vague recollection of the wall in my cave opening and shadowy figure coming out as I lost consciousness. I sat up. My wrists were bandaged and I felt light headed. I looked around and saw the extent of the cavern. I was on a shelf of rock overlooking what seemed to be a city. But what a city. It was so much like my dream; I thought I really was dead for a moment. Waterfalls cascaded down the rocks into pools and rivers ran through the streets. This was not machine water, but real pure natural water. The lights were neither dull red nor blinding white, but a variety of soft blues, vivid greens, royal purples, and earthy yellows. There was no temple at the center of the city, but instead a vast garden full of trees and living plants divided the city in two. But the thing that held me entranced was not the sights but the sounds. Instead of being filled with the roar of machinery, the air was filled with music of many forms. I had no names for what they sounded like, but to my ears they were simply heavenly and I don’t know how long I stood there drinking it all in. Suddenly, I heard a noise of movement behind me and I turned to see a door in the rock opening. Two men entered the shelf. One was tall with long dark hair. He was dressed in black and was barely visible below his neck. The other was older with grey hair, but he still stood upright. He wore a stunning cobalt blue robe like the color of his eyes. Neither wore beards. The younger man stood to one side and let his elder pass towards me. He sat on a stool near my bed and looked at me very hard. “So you are the one who found our little memento,? his voice was soft and yet strong, “It was well done, but we had no idea you would react that way to being denied by the Priests.?
“So were you watching me then??
“My dear boy, as soon as your leg fell through those wooden planks we were aware of you. See, we keep a close eye on our relics. When you dug up the guitar and started playing, we knew you were one of us and made up our minds to obtain you.?
“Wait. Dug up the what??
“The guitar.?
“Is that what it’s called??
“Yes. Didn’t you know? But I suppose that such things are quite foreign to you.?
“They are. Do you even know how the Syrinx works??
“There are few who know better than I.?
“And, who are you??
“Oh, didn’t I say? I am Alexander Lee, Patriarch of the Cygnus.?
“And are you members of the elder race??
“What they call the elder race, yes.?
“What do you mean??
“Perhaps I had better start at the beginning, my dear, uh, what is your name now??
“Martin.?
“Martin what??
“Oh, Martin 42.?
“Good God! They give you numbers rather that surnames? That is one thing I did not know. Well, we’ll work on a good surname some other time. But now I’m sure you want to hear the story so as you can know exactly who we are and why we are here.?
“Yes, please. I’m quite muddled at this point.?
“Well then, here it goes.?
“I’d like to tell you that it was a long time ago, but in reality it has been less than a century. About eighty years ago, the human race had reached the pinnacle of its glory. The domain of Man spread all over the galaxy due to our immense technological prowess. I served as a colonist to new planets; I was in effect a planet discoverer. There was, of course, discord in the political system of the galaxy. One party, the Appolians, supported technological growth and eventual conquest of the Universe. They were opposed by the Dionysians who believed all expansion should be stopped and the galaxy’s government slowly decrease the amount of technology until there was little left than that of 20th century Earth (which is what this planet used to be called, in case you didn’t know). Then there was the small faction of the Syrinx, who preached the banding together of all mankind under one banner to protect us from ourselves. The Temples of Syrinx had, in fact, already been set up on a few planets.
“During this time of political strife which affected the citizens of the galaxy not at all, I was sent to explore the black hole of Cygnus X-1. When I entered the black hole, I was transported to the heavens where I made peace between the gods Apollo and Dionysus and was christened Cygnus, god of balance. I was sent back to make peace in my own world for I had been shown a vision of eventual war and the rising of the Solar Federation. Very few listened to me when I told them and tried to make peace. So those of us who believed fled underground and preserved the state of humanity while the war raged over us, calling ourselves the Cygnus after the title which had been given me. When peace was made due to sheer exhaustion of both sides, the Syrinx’s ideas seemed good to all people and the remaining planets banded together under the Red Star. We underneath them on every planet vowed that, when the time came, to break forth and throw down the Syrinx and destroy their Temples of control. Well now the time has come for we said that if any human showed interest in the things of the old ways then we would give him a dream to help him find us. And that happened, sort of, with you.?
I stared at him in wonder. “We require a small task of you to help us in our insurrection.?
“What must I do??
He reached into his robes and brought forth a cylindrical object about a foot long. “We will send you back up now. It is night and you will take this beacon, travel East until daylight then activate the beacon and plunge it into the ground, for we must come up outside the city. Now I fear I must do this to you.?
I felt pain and knew no more.
When I came to, I was outside the city. I stood and began walking east. I thought about what had just happened and suddenly in hit me: I was going to make my dream a reality! The realization of what exactly I was doing came over me and instead of walking, I ran. I ran with a feeling I had never felt before but now know to have been joy. For three hours I traveled; sometimes walking; sometimes running, but I was too elated to hear the tell tail noises of pursuit behind me. All I could think about was a world where I was greeted every morning by the sound of a thousand, what were they called? Guitars. I could see the sky lightening in front of me now. I was going to see the sun rise for the first time! I slowed my pace then stopped altogether and looked about me. I saw dusty grey plains stretching as far as I could see in front of me and the colossus of Megadon still behind me though I was many miles from it now. I looked at the cylinder in my hand and perceived the weird markings on it. When I looked up again, I received the shock of my life, but in a bad way.
I was surrounded by at least ten thousand men in red and grey uniforms. I realized in a flash that the Priests had been watching me all the time since my visit to the Temple. They had known of my traveling outside the city and had followed me in force, knowing that I was a danger to them. And they had dispatched what I saw before me now: the totally real Legions of Syrinx. There was nothing for it. I activated the beacon, a long poker telescoping out of it, and jammed it into the ground. Almost immediately the ground began to shake and in seconds, a gigantic silver colored drill ripped open the ground from below. It stood sixty feet high unearthed. No sooner had it ceased to rise than the sides fell open and great blasts of energy came form the guns of the men inside, soon outside. The Legions of Syrinx didn’t stand a chance. They tried to group and do battle, but to no avail. The energy blasts ripped through them and the battle was over in minutes. I stood still in awe as the drill moved aside and from the ground came hundreds of thousands of men as well as the oddest vehicles I had ever seen. Great armored things I now know to be tanks, humvees with energy cannons mounted upon them, motorcycles reaching speeds of 600 mph, and all manner of other war machines. They all converged on Megadon. And even as the tanks blew the gates to fragments, the sun rose.
Much later, as I watched the Temple, framed by the sunset, being consumed in blue fire, I sat with Alexander on a tank on cliff overlooking the city. “What about the people?? I asked, “The lock-down is still in effect, solar system wide.?
“Don’t worry,? he replied, “I have it all figured out.?
He pressed a few buttons on the control panel and, lifting the microphone to his lips, transmitted a message which brought the people out in droves and crowds staring about them at the downfall of the Syrinx and listening to the music of a thousand guitars. I will remember what he said in that message for as long as I live. “Attention all planets of the Solar Federation, this is Alexander Lee of the Cygnus. Come out from your bondage for the Syrinx is no more. Open you windows, yours eyes, your minds, and your hearts. Hear the music of freedom; see the sunrise and sunset. Be free for we have assumed control. We have assumed control. We have assumed control!