After their confrontation the two Sarah’s moved away towards the cooking area talking to each other. Seeing the body language and animated gestures of the two women, encompassing Camila who followed along behind them looking bemused.

  It seemed that the two got along. David had known Sarah spent time with the logistics people, and generally was the most social of their little group, this was still something of a surprise, especially after she orchestrated their little raid and made him reevaluate his stance on the council, yet again.

  Before he and Charlie could make any progress into the thick crowds to reach the actual queue of people lining up to touch the Obelisk he saw their next problem closing in.

  Phil, the closest thing the self-appointed Obelisk Council had to a leader. The older man was still looking neat and clean, his freshly shaved chin a reminder to David that he hadn’t seen a razor in the best part of a week.

  The other man also sported one of the armbands the Council had adopted, his didn’t have a particular patch but did have the silver star they had already seen on Sarah Donnely. Paired with an only slightly rumpled suit and thin salt and pepper hair he radiated bureaucracy, the fact that he was clutching a clipboard really didn’t help.

  Another man with an armband and a Radio hurried over to him and pointed to David as he approached.

  Sensing a new confrontation, the crowd began to open up space as Phil approached David. Taking a deep breath he turned to confront the man.

  “What can I do for you Phil?”

  “You can start by addressing me as Councilman Greenwood. Mr…”

  He left the address hanging, David realized this was going to be another of the incredibly annoying points scoring conversations he hated. He chose to take the same approach he had with Sarah.

  “David is fine.”

  “Sir, it really isn’t. When dealing with the Government and official matters it’s important to be able to identify people. I’ve spoken to half a dozen people named David today and I’ve done them all the courtesy of using their surnames and documenting their needs properly, so I can follow up as required. The system works so again, could you share your full name?”

  David realized he was on the back foot without having said more than three words. Gritting his teeth he responded.

  “Phil, I’m completely confident you know who I am. We have spoken several times and even participated in community meetings together. I’m one of the most recognized people here, seeing as how I’m one of the ones going out and saving lives.”

  Phil schooled his expression then continued, something like smug superiority hiding behind his eyes.

  “Things have changed today, you may be unaware as you have been haring around doing goodness knows what, but…”

  Here he raised his voice.

  “We have been in touch with the Governor’s office, as well as the Mayor. The Government is getting back up and running! We will be in full control of this situation soon.

  The vigilante acts of individual citizens are not going to help. If you want to do some good, rather than getting people killed and breaking goodness knows how many laws, you volunteer with the Council, which has been recognized under my leadership. We are preserving the will of the people putting elected officials and their teams in authority in this and other designated relief zones.”

  David nodded. The salvo wasn’t unexpected. The news that they thought they had other relief zones also not a surprise, albeit confirming bad news.

  Radio’s were an amazing thing and he himself had led a police officer from in town to the safe zone. Setting up communication was good, he just wasn’t sure if it was helping if the people communicating weren’t moving with the times.

  Charlie was clearly getting ready to unload on Phil. Before he could David quietened him with a gesture. Then he went on the offensive instead.

  “I’m glad you have been doing your part to help people. You mention being in contact with the Governor’s office, and the Mayor’s office. I notice that you didn’t say that you had spoken with the Governor or the Mayor. Are both those senior elected officials well?”

  Phil almost flinched and an expression of grief washed over his face.

  “The Governor, who was a personal friend, didn’t make it. He and his wife were found earlier today at their official residence.”

  Feeling bad David pressed.

  “What was their state? What happened to them.”

  Phil’s expression became cold, and he ignored the question.

  “We are still working to establish which officials have come through this disaster. For now, anyone elected is being put in charge of their constituency and executive authority is being delegated to us.”

  Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

  “We are also documenting everything that is happening, both to insure we can help people find loved ones and to make sure that nobody gets to exploit this period of chaos illegally.”

  There it was, he was back on script.

  “So, I say again. I want to know what your full name is Sir.”

  He ground the last out trying to wield his authority, making David’s name the wedge issue.

  David smiled coldly. He might not like this game, but it was ultimately one of logic and he was well suited to dealing with those.

  “So, what you’re saying is that you don’t have anything you want to ask me for help with?”

  Phil’s smile was oily as he responded.

  “Sir, what I’ve been saying, politely and without bringing up the people you got killed, is that I need to know your full name to make sure that you don’t vanish into the woodwork like a termite to cause problems in the future.”

  Now it was David’s turn to turn cold.

  “Phil, I will ask you politely, once. NOT to disrespect the dead. People who died fighting to save lives deserve your respect. The fact that they brought supplies back here to keep everyone safe, the fact that they went out again to find people in need and help them is to be celebrated. You will NOT disrespect them in my presence.”

  Phil paused, noting that the armed men and women standing behind David were radiating hostility and Charlie was barely containing himself.

  Then he finally seemed to notice the growing open space surrounding their confrontation and seeing all the eyes on him visibly steeled himself.

  “Or what? You and your vigilantes will beat me up? Or shoot me? Is that what you think the world has become? We are a society of laws, and NOTHING allows you to threaten me.”

  The attack was delivered with the emotion and enunciation of the professional giving a stump speech. Which was a mistake. If he wanted to play to the crowd, David could do that too.

  “Phil, all you have earned so far is my distaste. If you insult people who fought and died after being told not to, everyone will judge you.”

  Then he turned to the crowd and the long, long queue winding towards the Obelisk. Raising his voice he called out.

  “How is Phil doing? Oh, for those of you who don’t know this is Phil!” He gestured to the man confronting him.

  “He’s in charge here! The Governor’s office has said so. Now I’m sure he is doing his best for you. So let me ask. Who’s had something to eat since arriving?”

  There were some rumbling responses from a minority of the crowd.

  “How many of you brought that food with you?”

  The rumble this time was louder than the first, if that was possible.

  “So Phil. What happened to all of the food that my team brought from Costco? What happened to the food from when you sent people back there after we made sure it was safe?”

  The rumble from the crowd was angry this time. It seemed they had been told something about supplies being tight, but this didn’t fit the narrative.

  Phil looked visibly nervous then he replied forcefully.

  “Most of the food you collected went in the feast you insisted on having. What little is left we are trying to work out how to cook without electricity and how to portion it fairly.”

  He didn’t say the word ration but implied it. David called out again addressing the crowd with his reply.

  “So, Phil. You can’t work out how to take dozens of sacks of flour, sugar and yeast and make simple bread that can be cooked on the dozens of grills over there.”

  Phil looked as he pointed to where the Sarahs, the raiders and what looked like a large number of volunteers were starting to pack things up to move them.

  “I don’t know how to make bread.”

  The admission was quiet, and Phil was looking distinctly unhappy at seeing his fellow council member working with raiders.

  “I suppose you also don’t know how to plug a backup generator into an outlet and power a house? I’m sure I heard generators going as I walked through the neighborhood. I suppose those people haven’t been using their ovens to prepare any food?”

  Now Phil just looked guilty.

  David continued.

  “Thankfully, my raiders went out and risked our lives, fighting to find more food. We are happy to share our food with everyone. We just need the means to cook it, and at least one of your council seems to be able to help.”

  Then he raised his voice louder still.

  “I was expecting to be able to get the Council to help spread the word, but it seems they, while doing some good work, have been too busy to see to people’s needs.

  We lost people, I’m sure many of you are in the same situation. We plan to mourn our dead tonight. We have food, which we will share freely with you all for as long as it lasts.

  So, I call on all of you. Bring something if you can, but you are all welcome. We are only going to get through this together. We will only succeed if we all embrace this new system and fight to rebuild together.

  Out there, we are being hunted and fighting for survival. So, in here we have to listen to our better angels.”

  Somone called out into the silence as David finished his speech.

  “What about us, I’ve been waiting in line for hours, I need this system and I’m hungry too!”

  David glanced at Charlie, the younger man nodded, his eyes unfocusing. Then he came back and spoke quietly.

  “you can do it. It’ll burn a ton of the free mana but you can do it.”

  David nodded then he closed his eyes, focused on his connection and granted everyone permission to initiate their tutorial without touching the Obelisk.

  “Why are you waiting in line? Just do your tutorials and come join us.”

  Then he tried something. At first it didn’t work then a familiar alien voice responded.

  I will push the notification for you Squire.

  There were gasps from the thousands waiting in line.

  “I recommend you get comfortable before starting your tutorials, they can take some time.”

  People began sitting, some were already standing frozen as David relieved the bottleneck around joining the system.

  “How, how did you do that?”

  Phil seemed more confused than anything now.

  “Do what?”

  “That wasn’t possible. We had to touch the Obelisk.”

  “No, you didn’t. The fact that you didn’t know how to do something doesn’t make it impossible. There is a lesson there. You need to embrace people who are pushing forward with the new way of things, not try to blame them for everything in some petty power struggle.”

  Phil looked even more shaken when David shared his perceived motivation.

  “If you can be civil and respectful you are welcome to join us to remember anyone you lost, or mark the passing of raiders you might have known. If you misbehave, I will have you expelled from what is ultimately a private party.”

  With that David and Charlie moved away from the councilman and headed towards the Obelisk, trying to pick their way through the masses undergoing their tutorials to fulfill their second objective.

  Those who were not in communion with the System parted to let them through and while they overheard awed murmurs nobody came up to them at first.

  Then a young man, probably a student a year or two younger than Charlie, broke away from a group of young people and approached them.

  “Man, you rocked that speech to the old dude. I already did my tutorial and I wanted to ask. You mentioned raiders and fighting. Is that like MMO with magic fighting or what?”

  When Charlie nodded the response was immediate.

  “How do I sign up to join?”