The Joy of Serving:

"What is this thing that you call happiness, or joy?" Jim asked. He was from another planet–one of the first humans to be born on the Martian Colony. We were in the asteroid belt together digging uranium, plutonium, and industrial diamonds. “I’ve heard a lot about it in your literature, especially in spiritual and religious texts,” he continued.

"No such thing,” I said. “I don't know what you're talking about."

"What do you mean by that?"

"I mean that joy is overrated."

"God. I thought I was cynical. You make me sound like that story about Mary Poppins or something."

"We live on an asteroid digging for industrial diamonds and radioactive materials. What do you expect?"

"I expect for you to understand this is only temporary and we're doing this for a purpose. One day we'll be rich beyond our dreams,” He leaned back in his chair and took a swig from his illegal whisky vile–drinking on the job again. “Just in a month or two we'll be clear of our contracts. Why are you worried? You’ve been here almost two years."

"I doubt that it’ll be that easy. I've seen enough accidents happening to people who were supposed to be finished to know that something is going on. I know what happens when you're about to get your quota and are about to go home, don’t you?" He got a strange look on his face and whispered forcefully.

"You better keep quiet. You want to get us killed?" And then more loudly, "Stop starting rumors like that. You're just going to scare people. The Prop Owners care for us like we're their children."

"And what is their property? Do you want to be their property?"

"Sure. I would be their property any time," he said with a grin. He gave me a wink and took another swig. I never saw him again.

***

Many weeks passed. I only had one month on my contract. I had a lot of money and I wasn’t sick or dead yet, which is always a plus, depending on where you live, of course. I was keeping my head down and my fingers crossed, not having anymore conversations like the one that sent Jim into a tail spin and probably ultimately ended up in his demise. Yet again, since he just disappeared like many, how could I be sure what had happened? A knock at the door interrupted my thoughts. I wondered who it could be at this time of night.

I was a night person. My friends knew that. Maybe it was one of them. I got out of my chair and headed for the door thinking how ironic it was to be a night person on a planet where there was no sunrise or sunset. We produced night ourselves by turning down the lights at a certain time and then turning them back up at the same time each day. How pathetic. The knock became more insistent.

“Hold your horses! I’m on the way!” I shouted. I got to the door and snatched it open. A woman in a tight black duro suit and with short blond hair stood there. I noticed the white armband, showing that she was part of the security force–more than that, the equivalent of a knight. I smiled to myself and thought how pretentious–a fucking knight. And then I began to get nervous. Why would the special police be coming to see me? I was frightened. The knights were bad news. What had I done wrong? She spread her hands.

“Are you going to let me in?” She asked in a somewhat husky voice. I was taken aback for a minute. She seemed too small to have such a voice. I wasn’t going to ask for a warrant. They had a reputation for being pretty mean and strong. She lifted an eyebrow and I stepped aside. She walked into the center of the room and looked around.

“How can I help you?” I asked, catching my wits.

"Can I have a seat?"

" Oh. Of course. Have a seat. Would you like something to drink–maybe a beer?"

" Yes. Sure. No one has ever offered me a beer. They've been too intimidated. Glad to see you aren’t."

"Well you are a knight after all." I headed to the kitchen. “You're known for, may I say, your enthusiasm.” She followed. I reached into the fridge and pulled out a couple of cold ones as she sat on one of the stools near the island in the kitchen.

"I am Syra. Sir Syra." I shook my head. Syra noticed. "Something wrong with my title is there?" She took one of the beers. I sat on a stool across from her.

"I just think…"

"That it is old, and out of place," she finished. "Maybe a bunch of crap, as I've heard you’ve said. It is old, but also new.” She fingered the top of the beer and then looked up at me. “Problem is that you can’t seem to adjust to the old or new.” She took a swig of the beer. “The world has changed. It’s taking the best of the old and new and putting them together to create a wonderful world. Can’t you see that?” I didn’t respond so she continued. “You think we’re stuck in the past, but it is you and your kind who are stuck in the past.” She took another drink.

“Oh really? Well I don’t see this best of both times you're talking about. I just see it as a struggle between those on top and all the rest who are stupid enough to get involved and carried away with all that nonsense. Knights and what not. Really?” She lifted the corners of her mouth, but remained silent. I sat across from her and continued. “I’m just going to take all of my marbles in about a month, and leave this game. You don’t have to worry about me, I vote with my feet and there is a big galaxy out there waiting for my footsteps..”

“That’s why you have been chosen for a seat on the High Council. Upon your acceptance you will be registered as New Nobility. You can change things then, if you’re still interested, and you don’t have to leave.”

“No. I’m flattered” I said, bringing my hand to my chest, “but I prefer to just wait a month and take that ship and all my credits out of here. Maybe I’ll travel for a while. Maybe even buy a little ship. That would be fun..”

“Seems that month has never ended for many of your peers, doesn’t it? It did for the ones who were stupid and worthless. They got all of their money and ran off to spend it on whatever they wanted. Most of them ended up broke within five years. The others, the ones like you, with potential, either joined us or just disappeared. They just disappeared and no one knows where they are.” She arched her brows.

“What are you saying?” I asked.

“Oh, nothing. I guess I just got a little too relaxed and had too much to drink. It’s getting late, I have to go.”

“You’ve only had one beer and it’s not that late.”

“Well it wouldn’t look proper for me, nobility, to be drinking in the house of a laborer this late, would it? I am a woman you know.”

“I gathered that from the clothing.”

“I just came by to give you a message about your peers and how many of them lost all they had by making incorrect decisions. We New Nobles are looking out for your best interest, and wouldn’t want you to make the same mistakes. Do you get my message?”

“I think I do.”

“Good. I’ll see you at the round table in a month or so then, or…never mind.” She finished her drink. “No need to walk me out. I know the way, Benjamin.” She headed for the door. I watched as she turned the knob, walked out, and closed it gently behind her. What the heck was that? Was it for real? I picked up her beer bottle and put it in the disposal. She downed that thing fast.

What she had said would be something to ponder–at another time. I was tired. Seemed that she was saying that I either become a knight, or a faux nobility leader, or they would kill me, or even worse. Who could I tell about this? No one, without them disappearing. I sat and continued to drink my beer wondering what my next step would be. It wasn’t fair. It made me angry.

I just mentioned how messed up these owners were to a friend once. Jim tried to play ignorant and then disappeared. I guess they figured he wasn’t ignorant enough. I couldn’t sentence anyone else to death. There was no one to turn to so I would have to make the decision myself. It really wasn’t a decision, was it? The irony–they only came after people who had something going for them, but this was really strong arming, if you know what I mean. What the hell did I have going for me, except the realization that this planet was bullshit and I needed to leave?

***

It was only a month and a half, but it seemed like years. I stood at the spaceport traveling light. What did I need to take anything with me for, I had a lot of credits on my safe bit phone and that’s all I needed. My credits. If I needed anything else I would buy it. I had a bag big enough for one change of clothing and my computer material.

I had stayed for an extra two weeks to get a little extra money, which came with a bonus because of my specialization so I was really all set. We were loading on the gangplank, when I was suddenly asked to step aside. I was taken to a small room where I sat at a small table wondering what was happening. I really knew what was happening. I couldn’t admit it to myself. I was going to disappear.

Syra came in with another so-called knight. Each sat in one of the two chairs facing me. He was a tall man with dark skin and a shaved head. He pulled out an electronic notepad. He held the button for a while and the screen lit up. He seemed to be the lead knight.

“So Mr. Trek,” he said, reading it off the pad. He looked up at me. “Where you going?”

“What do you mean? My time’s up.”

“Is it? Don’t you know it's against the law for you to just leave this planet without permission?”

“What permission? My contract is up.”

“That may be true, but your service isn’t up. You are a knight. You joined…” he looked at Syra.

“About a month and a half ago,” she said. “If he wants to desert though, I’m sure we can find a place for him with all the other deserters.”

“How can I be a deserter if I never signed up? And how can you sign up to be a Noble? You have to be born that way.”

“Not now. You can become one by being a knight. I offered it to you. You received it."

“I never said I wanted to be a knight. I said I wanted to leave.”

"You didn't read the fine print in your contract. You should have said no if you didn't want it, and made sure I knew you were serious,” Syra said.

“So I think that you were drafted to our service before you decided to leave,” the man responded. Syra nodded.

“It’s up to you,” she said. “We’re not going to try to coerce you in any way. We have a small apartment for you to rest in so you can think it over.” I began to protest and she held up a finger. “When you decide we’ll send you on your way. Either” she flattened her right hand, “to a fulfilling life where you are helping to create a better world for all of us, or” she flattened out the other hand. “I don’t know where. Maybe you’ll just stay here somewhere in a cell for a while.

“That is so not right,” I said. “You can’t force me too…”

“Come on,” the guy said. “How long are we going to play this game?” I shook my head.

I couldn’t believe this. How could it be legal? I thought to protest, but saw that it would be of no use. This government was totally totalitarian and Feudal. Maybe I could buy some time by staying. I steepled my hands and bumped my fingertips to my lips.

“And if I agree with this. Will this little problem go away?”

“That’s a possibility,” he said, looking at Syra. She nodded. I looked at her and shook my head.

“Ok. I’ll stay,” I said flatly.

“I don’t understand what you are saying,” He asked. “Are you rejoining us or are you going to stay in a cell?”

“No. I’ll stay and become whatever you want me to be.”

“Are you sure? We don’t want to force you to do anything. Being a Knight is a great honor and I can’t even say how honorable it is to be on the High Council. Can you Syra?” She shook her head. I was silent. He grinned after a few moments, and so did Syra.

“I said I would do it, didn’t I?”

“Good. Good to have you on board. I’m Mark and this is Syra. I think you’ve already met Syra. She’s very high ranking and will be in charge of orienting you.” I looked at her and frowned.

“I think you made a good choice,” She said with a grin. “Knight Benjamin. We have to get you fitted ASAP and then you can go back to your apartment and wait for your orders. And please don’t try to desert or we may be forced to send you to a prison off planet somewhere.” I glared at her but was silent, which seemed to please her to no end.

“Two knights will be in to lead you to the area where you can pick up your uniforms and your band,” she tapped her upper arm. “And then we can start from there.” She grinned and looked at Mark who was just as smiley. They made me sick. They both got up and left the room. I thought about running out, but I knew that since I had agreed they could do anything they wanted.

So there I was in a couple of weeks sitting at a large round table in a ridiculous black suit wearing a white armband. No training, nothing, just a noble knight. Syra said I didn’t need any training other than a brief two week boring history course on the knights and the Founders of the settlement. She said it would look good for me to be a knight for a short period of time until I was promoted to being one of the members of the New Nobles High Council.

I would begin by roaming the planet, finding people who were about to leave and recruiting them. As time went on, after being on the Council for many years, I would become a Prop Owner–one of the group of oppressors who sat on land and made money from all of the work that everyone else did. They would give me a cut of all of the profits. How ridiculous. I just wanted to leave. I had enough credits to last a lifetime. Why would I want to be a Lord over someone?

I looked down at my ring. It was a beautiful ring…a large, green gemstone stood out shining brightly as if there were a light behind it. It was one of the gems found on this planet–Arakna. It was a very highly unstable material that could actually explode when it came in contact with certain low, low frequencies that didn’t exist in nature. All of the novice recruiters had to wear one. If one went array all they needed was to send a signal through the radio, and blam…off went the finger as warning number one. How crude. I looked at Syra. She wasn’t wearing one.

Not many around the table were wearing them. She noticed me looking at her hand and smiled. She leaned forward, picked up some nuts from a small bowl in the middle of the table, tossed them into her mouth, and then looked away at the speaker who seemed to be going on and on about how great we nobles were. What a crock of shit. I watched her. She seemed to be swallowing it all, or at least pretending.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, we broke and were allowed to leave, but only after I got introduced as a newbie. I turned the ring on my finger. “Don’t worry,” our speaker said. She grinned. “We all had our period of wearing the ring. I assure you it will be removed very soon.”

I smiled back. “Thank you Sir Miles,” I said.

“No need to be so formal, Benjamin. We are all on equal footing here. We are the nobles. We are the ones who will shape this planet into a paradise, eventually. Until we reach a point where everything can be shared, unfortunately, we have to strong arm people. That’s unfortunate, but it is for a greater cause. Really,” she said.

“I don’t know how to respond.”

“That’s because you’ve been strong armed, but you will see the truth. You and Syra will be traveling the planet and recruiting from those who are about to graduate from our training program.”

“What program is that?”

“Digging ore, of course. We watch and evaluate who would make good leaders. We look at the attainment of skills, drive, morality, character, and even the ability to think, in order to choose those who would do well to lead this planet into a beautiful future.

The first step, of course, is finishing the 2 year commitment. For those who are somewhat limited that means their freedom and the ability to go off into the galaxy to spend all of their earnings on sex, drugs, and Virtual Reality Helmets. The others are offered a chance to become leaders. Some do, some don’t.

The ones who do become helpful and work to create the great society. The others go to another dig and their earnings are held until they are able to gain enough intelligence and character to have such a large amount of economic power and use it for the benefit of everyone. Few make it out of the mines, unfortunately. What are your thoughts about that?”

“I don't have any just yet,” I said.

“Good answer. See why you’re here?” Syra grinned.

“Let’s go Ben. Time to take our first trip. I’ll show you how it’s done,” she said.

“OK,” I said. “Thank you for explaining a little more about the process, Miles.” .

“I am pleased.” She turned to Syra. “After you get ready to go I’d like to see you for a few minutes to pass on some information, Syra.” Syra gave her a quick nod.

“My pleasure,” She said.

***

I put on my silly little black suit. The other had only been temporary. The armband was woven into the material on this one, which surprised me. I thought it was something they always wore apart from the suit. I was given a short stick that would emit a shock when I pushed it against someone’s unguarded skin.

There was little strap I could use to attach it to my wrist, or I could hang it on my belt and use the quick strap release to remove it anytime I needed it for protection. I looked at the thing as Syra explained how and when I might use it.

“So this is for what, to convince people to join us?”

“To join US,” she said. “The Knights. You’re not really a knight, only a knight in transition. Much bigger things are reserved for you. You really got on somebody’s good side.” She grinned. “With all of the credits you have and your behavior in the mines, you are set to be on the board within a week or two, but before that you need some experience as part of the military service. You need to know what is expected of us members of the round table. So, I’m glad to teach you. I have to be nice to you since you’ll be above me some day.” She smiled. I shook my head so slightly she wouldn’t notice, but she did, and grinned more broadly.

“You still think we’re full of it, but one day you’ll see the truth. You believe that people deserve the type of freedom they can’t handle right now. I know it sounds bad to even hear someone say that, but history is on my side, and what is going on right now proves what I’m saying. You may be a humanitarian. You may believe in justice, self empowerment, democracy and all of that, but look at what people have done with it. How can you continue to ignore it?”

“I stopped ignoring it a long time ago, that’s why I want to leave.”

“That’s also why we need you. You are awake. If you don’t help us, who will? Wherever there is a vacuum it will be filled, as the Old Earth Philosopher Aristotle said. When good people leave positions of power because of institutional corruption their posts will be filled by corrupt individuals who will drive the society down and rally the stupid, angry, inept, and lazy to tear down the whole society. Don’t you feel that you owe anything to this society?”

“No,” I said, throwing a few things into a travel bag. She just smiled.

“Yes you do or you wouldn’t be here. Your qualities are what brought you ultimately, not our threats. Think about that as we're traveling. Think about the fact that your drive, determination, decency, and kindness is foundationally what has been the reason you have been chosen for a position of power that can help make this world just a little better. Had people been chosen like that in the past, we would not be here on a rock digging for uranium and other radioactive ore to supply energy needs of a society using obsolete technology, while more advanced technology has been in existence for more than three hundred years. Just think about it.”

Everyone doesn’t see it that way. Be careful who you talk with about these issues. We are only a small group within several groups with various thoughts, ideas, and opinions. Now you are one of us. You can talk freely about those things with us, but be careful not to with others because they, like the ones who have driven us into these lifestyles, are often in it for themselves or their own families and friends at best. Just think about it.”

How could I help but do so?

The End (Part 1)

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