In the Wake of Devastation

[Hope98]

I stepped throught the smoldering remains of the city. Through the gray haze, I saw Lemminkainen and Zex. I walked over to them and somberly asked them what happened.

[Genki]

using the magical time traveling Atari was the best thing ever. I got to go back in time and meet my hero, Jimmy Carter! He even shook my hand. it was amazing! but this, coming back to this was like walking into a nightmare. the devastation was unlike anything i had ever seen. it was horrible. to think that red infinity did this!! i stood by Hope, not knowing what to say or do. it all seemed like a really bad dream.

[Hope98]

"How did this happen? Had we been here...and not in the past...we would have died!" Our lives were spared by the time traveling. But our rebel activity brought the wrath of Red Infinity upon this village. All of the people here, they died, because of what WE did......

"Genki, we did this. We killed the people. They did nothing. It was us that Red Infinity meant to kill."

[Lightmer Witmer]

As he fiddles with the time traveling Atari, Lightmer Witmer eats a very large submarine sandwhich. His only regret is that he did not get extra mustard. He eats the sandwhich and picks his teeth with the tooth pick. The very tooth pick which pinned the sandwhich together and adorned it with a green olive. He skims though the news. The hostage crisis in Iran continues.
"Oh my, I am late for work. I suppose I must leave 1979 and return to the Ministry of Psychology."
He dabs his face with a napkin, strokes the Atari, and is magically brought back to the Ministry.

[Genki]

"We can't blame ourselves for this, Hope. we were only doing what we thought was right. who knew that Red Infinity would do this? to such a remote village...." I pat her on the shoulder. "...i just want peace. we should never have done anything against the government. peace is the only thing that matters."

[Hope98]

"You are wrong, Genki. What is peace without justice? We can not sit back and watch Red Infinity rule the world as it does. We can't do nothing. But this...this cost was too high."

[Genki]

"there has to be another way. there must be some non violent resolution to all of this. ever since you met Bassarov you've changed. you used to value peace and human life. now...you only value change. this isn't worth it. I warned you Hope. i warned you not to rebel against Red Infinity with the villagers. now look at this? what did you accomplish? if we would have been passive and peaceful, none of this would have happened."

[Hope98]

Genki blames me for this. He does blame me. I blame myself. I did do this. I brought this destruction uppon the people. Maybe I should just turn myself into the government and end all of this. Then no one else will have to suffer. I have considered it before.

I look at the mangled corpses and want to die. I should have been the one to die. No.


"You are wrong Genki. Red Infinity did this. I have to fight. There are times when violence and uprising are neccessary. I am sorry to say it, but sometimes evil is so great it can only be stopped by force. I will not suffer peacefully under their rule. I have changed. But only because I have seen more.

I would rather not fight....but...but I have no choice. Someone has to."

I walk away from Genki. He means well. I want to be a pacifist like him. But pacifism is an ideological luxury. I can not afford it. Not when I have the strength and power to change things.

[Genki]

i watch as she walks off. i feel sad. i sit on a broken park bench and talk to a sparrow.

"she doesn't understand. we must be above the oppressor. we can not use the same means as those who are cruel and repressive. we would be no better than them. you understand that, right?" the bird bobs its head.

"we must be above violence and force. human life is an end unto itself. an end above all others. i cherish life, even the lives of those who hurt us. no good can come from evil means. no good can come from violent means."

[Hope98]

Genki has a point. There must be a democratic way to a better world. What if I don't have to use violence? What if there could be global elections. What if I could negotiate with Lin-Sat. I used to believe in democracy and gradual change. Even a little change would help. I could write a letter to Beijing...to Lady Violet or Lin-Sat. A petition for human rights.

I want to believe in democratic change...not revolutionary change.

But is it possible?

[Lemminkainen]

Hope walks past me. "So like, what do we do now? Our house kinda got blown up with the rest of the city. Why do we do?"

[Hope98]

"We are powerless against Red Infinity. I am not certain what do do. I am going off on my own again. I am going to travel to Beijing. We will meet again in a few weeks. But for now, I have things I must do alone. I suggest that you train to fight. I am going to try any democratic or diplomatic path, but, if I fail, I will return....and we will fight them like we have never fought them before."

I walk away from Lemminkainen, Zex, and Genki. I know it will be a while until we meet again. But when we do, it will either be with hope for peace or in preparation for all out war.

[Lemminkainen]

Hope just walks off. She looks really determined.
"I am going to train then. what Red Infinity did was wrong. I am going to go back to Finland, and I am going to come back stronger!" I look at my friends, Genki and Zex. "See you in a few weeks!!" with that, i turn into a giant blue goose and fly off.

[Hope98]

It is sad leaving friends. But I have to have hope that maybe, just maybe, there can be peace. I must know. I will know.

[Zex]

I glance at Genki. "well, heck if I'm stayin' here with you!" I rub the time traveling atari and go back to 1979.