The Balkanization of America (31 page)

“Ted, thanks for joining us, I assume you’re up to date on the situation.”

“Yes, sir.”

“I’d like your thoughts on some ideas I have, I think the best way to protect our kids in school is to hire off-duty police officers, retired police officers and retired military to guard the schools; these people are all trained in the use of weapons, they all have knowledge how to respond. I suggest we hire at least one per school. We’ll hire enough guards to make sure no one can ever break into the school and kill our children again.”

Ted says, “Sir, some parents won’t like the idea of armed guards at their children’s schools.”

“Ted, the only way to stop a bad person with a gun is a good man with a gun. The parents who object are going to have to accept armed security if they want their children secure. I agree this isn’t the optimum solution, it’s the only one I think we can implement quickly and show we’re serious about protecting our children. Shopping malls are more difficult; they are much larger, and they have more doors to guard. It would be very expensive to post guards at every door. I really don’t know what to do.”

Ted looks at the ceiling of the room; he turns to look at the President, “Sir, I do have one outlandish idea, before I say it, realize it is out there.”

Both the President and the Secretary of the Treasury respond, “Well do tell, we’re all ears.”

“Sir, why not simply allow open carry across the country? People who own handguns will carry them if someone tries to attack a mall again they’ll be met with armed citizens.”

Steve looks worried, responding, “Ted, you’re proposing turning the country into the Wild West aren’t you?”

“Steve, did you ever read any science fiction?”

“Of course, why?”

The President smiles saying, “Ted, I like it, I think this can work. Let’s get Rash in and check his thought on it.”

Rash joins the meeting, after being told the plan he smiles responding, “I can’t wait to announce this, I’m betting we might have a couple of the reporters in the room fall over onto the floor. I better alert the local EMTs.”

Everyone in the room laughs.

Steve says, “I’ll notify the medical staff to be standing by.”

Rash smiles, “You better do that.”

“Rash, this is a very serious situation, please handle it as such.”

“Mr. President don’t worry I will.”

@@@@@

Even though my wrists have been untied, I’m not lonely. An FBI agent has been assigned as my babysitter.  He stands next to me. If I take a step to the left, so does he. Ten minutes later a Sterling police car pulls up, the passenger side door opens, out jogs Ron wearing body armor. “Hey Ron, over here.”

Ron jogs over, he yells back, “asshole, be patient.”

Ron chats with the FBI Special Agent in Charge, before he walks over to me saying, “I don’t know whether to hug you or arrest you.”

“What’d I do?”

“You’re a moron; you could have gotten yourself killed, I told you not to enter the mall.”

“Ron, I had to do something.”

“You did good, the FBI confirms you got four of them, you’ve got to be very careful because a few of the agents are still thinking of arresting you.”

“Arresting me? For what?”

“Murder one.”

“What the fuck? I killed terrorists.”

“And you went home to get your rifle, you planned on killing them, …”

“But I….”

“Don’t say anything, if you do, you might end up arrested.”

“Then why was I released?”

“Who said you were released, I asked them to remove the zip ties, you can’t leave, you have a shadow.”

“Yea, I know the big guy right there.”

“Yup, he’s the one.”

“Do you know what they’re going to do with me?”

“I think I can get you released to me. Brad, you can be a real pain in the ass. You’re causing me to spend hours filling out paperwork, and you know how much I hate paperwork.”

“OK, I owe you one.”

“Old buddy, it’s going to take more than one this time.”

“Hey, do I get my AR back?”

“Yes, but not right now.”

“Hey, that’s my best one.”

“Brad, just shut up, you’ll get it back in about a year.”

“Ron, …”

“Just shut up and I’ll see if I can you released.”

“OK.”

@@@@@

Two days after starting their journey to the power generating plant, the New York Fire Department truck finally pulls up at the front gate of the electrical plant. The crew is shocked to see a party going on; lights are on, people wearing an unusual ID around their necks are coming and going through the gate. An armed guard comes out to meet the fire truck. “ID, please.”

“What do you mean ID?”

“You need a red lined ID to enter, this is a power plant, and it’s dangerous in here.”

“We’re the New York City Fire Department.”

“So what, we don’t have a fire, no one reported a fire here.”

“If you have electricity why doesn’t the rest of the city?”

“You’ll have to talk with the manager.”

“Where is he?”

“Office on top of the plant. I’ll let you in without a pass this one time.”

The first fire truck slowly pulls into the parking lot, the second stays outside the gate. The crew is amazed to see a line of sculptured snow women lining the parking lot. Each is realistic and six feet tall. “What the hell?”

“Someone is a real artist, wonder whom they modeled it on.”

Exiting the truck the five men enter the power plant. They hear the turbines spinning their sergeant asks, “What the hell is going on? The plants running, where’s the power going?”

“Have no idea, this place looks party central. People are walking around here drunk, carrying bottles. Music is so loud I can barely hear myself think.”

“Hey firefighters, over here!”

They look up to see a man in a dark suit leaning over the railing.

The firemen walk upstairs where they meet the manager of the plant.

“Hi, I’m the manager, Mr. Paul Sutton, welcome. Are you here to address my letter?”

“Letter? What letter? We’re here to find out why the city is without power and what we can do to turn it back on.”

“That’s easy, come in, have a seat, would you like something to drink? Coffee, water, beer?”

The leader of the firemen looks around the office, “Mr. Sutton, if you’re generating power why doesn’t the city have any? Thousands are dying without heat or water.”

“Then why hasn’t the mayor responded to our letter?”

“On Christmas when President Obsma announced the formation of the LSA all of the staff at the city’s power plants got together, we formed our own union. We sent a demand letter to the Mayor listing our demands with the comment we would cut off power at 12: 01 AM January 1 if an agreement wasn’t reached. On December 28 we sent a follow-up letter, on New Year’s Eve having not received any response we followed through on our promise, we cut the flow of power. What would you do if the city ignored your union?”

“I wasn’t aware you sent any demands to the Mayor. Did you get any response of any sort?”

“Not a peep.”

“What are you doing with your power now?”

“On January 2
nd
we signed a contract with the USA to sell them all of the power we generate. We’re getting paid in gold; we’re all rich!”

“Doesn’t the city own Con Edison?”

“Nope, Con Edison is a private company. They moved their HQ to New York State on December 24. Corporate informed us we could sell our electricity to wherever we got the best price; we pay a percent to corporate since we’re located in the city. Since the mayor didn’t answer, we were free to sell to the highest bidder who turned out to be the USA. Did we tell you they pay us in gold?”

“Don’t you feel bad that thousands are dying without electrical power?”

“It must not have been important enough for the mayor who didn’t respond to our requests.”

“We’ll contact him and get back to you really quickly.”

The fire department leaves the plant shaking their heads. “What the fuck? We’re sent here to see if we can get the power turned on only to discover it’s on, but the mayor didn’t contact them? I don’t think this is going to turn out very good for us.”

“Me either, I know the Mayor doesn’t like bad news and he doesn’t treat the bearers of bad news well. I know I should have packed up and left.”

“Why did you stay?”

“Kids, wife wanted to keep the kids in the same school so they could be with their friends.”

“Me too, Maybe I can get the wife to change her mind.”

“I’m going to try to change my wife’s too. This is going to be a mess, what’s the mayor going to do?”

“He might send the NYPD to take control the plants.”

“He’d be confiscating private property.”

“He won’t care; he’s a commie, bet you a case of beer that’s what he does.”

“No bet, if he does I bet Con Ed asks the American government for help, this is going to get sticky.”

@@@@@

“Brad, I got you released to my care, you have to promise me you’ll stay out of trouble for a while.”

“Can you define ‘a while’?”

“Until I say so.”

“Knowing you that can be a very long time.”

“Just do it, there’s some in the FBI, who still want to charge you with murder. Thank God the new Secretary of Homeland Security thinks you’re a hero, he forced the FBI to drop any charges against you.”

“I did kill four terrorists.”

“And almost got yourself killed.”

“What’s next?”

“All kidding aside, you got brass balls, I’m proud of you. Right now I’m taking you home where I’d like you to stay for a couple of days.”

“OK, I guess I don’t have a say or choice do I?”

“Nope. We’re expecting more attacks, do me a favor and stay home with Kathy.”

“Ron, if I didn’t say it before, thanks for saving my ass from the feds.”

“You owe me one.”

@@@@@

Mayor DeFarco replies to the fire department crew, “Let me see if I understand this; the Con Edison manager sold his power to the USA? While he’s in my city? Well, damn him, I’ll get the NYPD to kick his ass out of there and we’ll have power again.”

One fireman leaned over whispering, “told you so, you owe me a case of beer.”

“Mr. Mayor, did you receive their demands?” Asks the Fire Department Chief.

“What difference does it make, I’m the mayor of the LSA’s largest city, I run this city. They will do as I say. Give me all of the information you have, and then I’ll get SWAT to take them out for crimes against humanity.”

The fire chief says, “Mr. Mayor, they’re not committing any crimes, they simply sold their electric power elsewhere.”

“Just follow your orders, or you’ll find yourself without a job. I want you to escort SWAT back to the station, they know you; they’ll let you in; then SWAT will capture them turning power on to the city.”

@@@@@

“Mr. President, you have a call from the Chairman of Con Edison, he’s a major contributor to the party plus he’s saying it’s a matter of national security.”

“Why is he calling me? What’s his name and what line is he on?”

“Frank Clearson, line two.”

“Mr. Clearson what can I do for you?”

“Mr. President, thank you for taking my call, I realize it must be unusual for the chairman of a private company to call the President saying it’s a matter of national security.”

“Mr. Clearson, you’re correct; I’m sorry; my time is very short, could you, please give me the condensed version of the national security issue?”

“Mr. President, the LSA in the person Mayor DeFarco has invaded and taken possession of five of our power plants.”

“How is this a national security issue?”

“Because those plants were generating electrical power for the US.”