Vigilant Shadows

By P. G. Simmons

The year was 2061. The country was going to hell in a handbasket because of a totalitarian government, and it appeared as if there is no one on the horizon able to turn it all around. Little did Harper Claybourne know that she was destined to play an important role in the deliverance of a new nation! As she muddles her way through hidden family secrets, clandestine personal subterfuges, and close involvement with the underground, she realizes that forgiveness releases the soul as much as love heals it.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Apr 7, 2016
• ISBN: 9781514481288

P. G. Simmons

P. G. Simmons lives on a small farm with her husband. They have two dogs, one cat, chickens, and a few cattle. Although she is a published writer, she is also a photographer, sculptor, and graphic designer. Her latest novel, Evil Deceit, is a continuation in the saga of the Claybourne family, which is seeped in deep Southern traditions and moral values.

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PROLOGUE

The Year 2061 -- The Extrication --Tuesday 2AM, April 5

I t was a wet dreary day very much like that fateful day in 2040, which had been drummed into her as the beginning of the end. Who would have thought that what was considered the last corner of the free world would have come to this point in such a short span of time?

Suddenly, a thought hit her, where was that contact I was supposed to be meeting---it had to be two by now?

Harper could feel the dampness of the night air creeping into her clothing as she tried to meld into the dirty ivy covered brick wall behind her. Waiting was terribly nerve racking, and she had never been a very patient person. Even as a reporter Harper often was too impulsive and had to force herself to be self-disciplined. Quietly letting a little air out of her lungs, she restrained the urge to move full speed ahead, involuntarily forcing relaxation. She had been cursed with a brain that often rambled whenever she was unwillingly motionless for any length of time. This waiting and hiding only caused her thoughts to drift backward in time. Like so many others she had no idea of how it would all end, but she knew from history, older individuals and her unrelenting research, exactly how it had begun---

The greatest change started when the first female was finally, after twenty-four years, elected President! No one knew why it had taken so long unless it was the fact that the first woman who tried running ended up being prosecuted and people were reluctant to trust a woman again so soon. But then, that was only a personal observation of the facts.

Little did the country know then just how much their small corner of the world would be changed because progressives had been in charge since the year 2020. True historians understood what changes had taken place over the last forty-two years, but they were becoming fewer in number due to all the rewriting of the history of our country.

When the first woman was elected President, forty percent of the population was disappointed in the results whereas sixty percent had been elated that a true progressive savior had finally been elevated to the highest office in the land to carry on the great wave of change.

Over the years, the balance of power had been slowly and permanently shifting in favor of socialism---or at least the progressives continued to hold the majority in both houses of Congress and the Supreme Court. After the demise of the Republican Party, the country became a one-party system, but soon even that party, like an amoeba, divided into two parts. The Liberal Progressives were comprised of socialistic individuals and left leading liberals. The Conservative Progressives included the fewer moderate liberals as well as others, like independents and true Conservatives who had nowhere to go.

How it all came about had been a bit hard to swallow much less to understand, but in truth, the deep-seated conservatives of the country had nowhere to go but into the Progressive party, creating a new division of loyalty among the population. In a country like the United States, it wasn't that unusual for the disheartened and disillusioned to find a spot for themselves where they could nurture and thrive in hopes of bringing their part of the party to the forefront. One would have never imagined that such a turn-about could have ever taken place or that one part of the Progressive party could stay in control for so long.

The fact was that the citizens of the greatest country on earth looked away for an instant and everything went to hell in a hand basket. The big contributor to it all was that the majority of the population came to believe in the total equality ideology mantra along with the view that a strong overpowering Federal Government would solve all of life's big and little problems for them.

Yet research proved that the general belief was that it was due mainly to all the years and years of socialistic teachings and squeezing out all other antithetical views from kindergarten through college. Also, maybe it was all the slow progressive advancements along the way and all the confidence placed in a government that made Americans accept the principle that the downfall of the United States was inevitable unless repaired in the socialistic image as all the other nations of the world. Whatever it was---it had crept up slowly and methodically and now had the country by the throat!

H arper felt a shiver crawl up her spine---something wasn't right. She could feel it in her bones! The atmosphere reeked of danger! Yet, those were often the times when she would drift off into the past! But this time it was different---she was in the most precarious position of being out after curfew, out of uniform and a government employee. After all, she was to set a good example for all the other citizens!

Standing in the shadows listening, she wondered what was causing these overwhelming feelings of vulnerability? She had always been well aware of how rooted she was in her own beliefs and abilities. Hadn't she been careful enough? Being extremely cautious had become second nature to her over the years. It seemed she had been training for this moment all her life without even knowing it. Again she couldn't keep from letting her thoughts wander backward, recounting silently much of her research into past political history---

It had been well documented that the foundations of change had started well under President Hollis Zabada Kaemon. Early in the twenty-first century, he had promised to change the country, and he slowly and methodically did to some extent by the end of his second term. Although there had seemed to be strife and battling almost every step of the way with the conservative part of the population, he had skillfully used the tactics of divisiveness as his main weapon in order to make inroads, which the progressives believed that one-day would lead to more permanent changes.

He was revered by some and hated by others. Sometimes he won, but many times his policies were defeated or at least stalled in their tracks. Still, the minor victories that had been secured during his eight years as president---such as throwing open the borders to illegal aliens, encouraging dissent among the races, inciting domestic unrest, giving government more control over things like education, health care, banking, and making inroads into state police forces had been just a few of his accomplishments. He had even taken credit for the Supreme Court decisions---such as the legalizing of same sex marriages as well as the removal of the Confederate Battle flags from all state buildings. But it didn't stop there, all Confederate statues, names from schools, military bases and streets were also eliminated, destroying a good deal of Southern history.

He also had spearheaded a more wide-range movement for stricter political correctness. By reinforcing the university systems to ban certain words that might be considered injurious to certain groups, he had then followed that with an immediate encouragement to begin banning certain statements, and later, without provocation, to even prohibit personal ideas. The President had without the slightest hesitation ignored the First Amendment, beginning what would eventually lead toward the tight control in the future over what had at one time been called freedom of speech.

During the last months of his term, President Kaemon had not only reopened relations with the communist country of Cuba along with embassies but also stood behind the selling of aborted fetal parts for stem cell and other types of research. The police had become big targets for random killings, and over the last months of his administration, these types of shootings had become more prominent and more frequent.

As his term was coming to an end, he had begun to constantly lobby for stricter control of weapons with more gun free zones around the nation. Along with these new more aggressive programs, the President drove a deeper wedge between the fractions trying to push his amnesty for illegal aliens within the country, but was blocked by the state of Texas, which was at the forefront of the opposition. Last but not necessarily least, one of the last Constitutional Supreme Court justices passed away, and President Kaemon slyly appointed an ultraliberal justice during the Senate's adjournment causing the Supreme Court to finally move strongly to the left.

As far as his legacy was concerned, he had proudly pointed to the historic Nuclear Agreement deal reached with Iran as his crowning jewel. The USA and six other nations had reached an accord with that country, and he had been quick to tout it as the biggest diplomatic achievement in history!

Before he finally left office, there had been overwhelming surges of racial demonstrations, indiscriminate hate murders, police targeting, radical resurgence, and the sad desecrations of flags---even Old Glory came under attack. But it was the terrorist attacks all over the globe that had come to the forefront, killing and maiming the innocent and the young that had from that period on become internal wars. The United States was no exception as terrorist cells began to come out of the shadows and kill erratically. It had all seemed like a bad dream for many people, but optimism still burned eternal within certain corners of the population. These individuals felt it could all be repairable by electing a new president with new ideas and an opposite direction! At least, that had been the hope!

R ubbing her forehead, she glanced around, listening intently for any unusual sounds. She could tell by the far away clicking of boots on concrete that the black shirts were on the prowl but still a good distance away. Still, she wondered just what perilous situation she had thrust herself into.

The problem at the moment was that she had an important meeting with an important individual. A man she had never met much less spoken with, and she couldn't imagine what was keeping him. Under those circumstances, she felt exhilarated even though she was fearful of being discovered by the soldiers.

Images continued to orbit her brain recounting the research her uncle had encouraged when she was a mere student---dealing with the early Progressive presidents who had served before the crucial date of 2040. Standing there and waiting, she thought about the past history---

By the 2016 election the country, which had been pretty evenly divided until then, appeared to have moved to the hawkish side of the ledger. At that time, many had become sure that a more conservative candidate would take a stronger stand on security and reverse the overwhelming transfiguration shoved on the country by President Kaemon, who had left the country in turmoil filled with hate, violence, fear, and many executive orders. At that time, the people had been looking for another kind of change---a strong individual who would fight for and restore the freedoms that seemed to be eroding!

History showed that there had been an overwhelming change within the Republican Party. Individuals characterized as outsiders had taken the party by storm, grabbing the imagination of the populace! These candidates were not controlled by either of the two major parties, which bewitched voters who had been looking for something different, something new, and something exciting.

Even after the anointment of this so-called outsider there had been no dramatic changes in the status quo within the government. The Senate flipped backward giving the ultra-liberal Democrats control once again of that part of Congress. Although the Republicans had remained in control of the House, the Senate proved once again how cunningly able they were in tying the newly elected President's hands at every turn. Again with the liberal Democrats in control of the Senate, the interim appointment of the ultraliberal Supreme Court Justice by President Kaemon was quickly approved and confirmed.

The only difference between the previous progressive government and the newly elected conservative government had been that the country had elected a political outsider to lead, not a politician---a man who had promised the moon and the stars but in reality had been able to deliver very little. At the time, no one had known that the Republican candidate would turn out to be such a weak leader after showing such bully bluster during the primaries and election.

During the first two years, nothing much had been done to improve the immigration problem even though the new President had tried getting a bigger and better wall built! As for his promise to close the immigrant visa program for individuals coming from the Middle East, he let it slip by the wayside as he did his promise to get rid of government health care since he basically couldn't get enough members of the Congress behind him. Like a petulant child, he kept a little Get Even Notebook with all the names of all those he felt were unfair or worked against him.

This President had also done his best in trying to curb the internal strife and threats of terrorism by increasing the police forces around the country, and to some extent did check it. But nothing seemed to help as this rebellious fever continued to thrive aided and abetted by the socialistic youth of the nation.

As for his foreign policy, the President had not been any more successful in dealing with the Russian and Iranian aggression than the preceding President. As the sequestration had been abolished stopping the defense cuts, he was able to put some money into building a larger and stronger military as well as into adding to the alternate energy program.

Yet when it came to fighting the radical Islamist, he was stifled in taking the fight to them just like other leaders all over globe. This President had not relished going to war any more than his predecessor, and once again it proved how much the country had been weakened and internal radical Isis groups had grown. While ignoring the two countries which were fighting over the Middle East, and Isis, which was expanding their influence throughout Europe, this President had been determined to put all his concentration into building the country's economy and strengthening the borders.

The economy had been the main objective this President had wanted to succeed at, and during his term he had worked hard to bring some companies and industries back into the country. He had provided more jobs just like he had promised, decreased the Federal debt to a small degree, and to some extent, restored America's place as the leading capitalistic society. Still, the United States had remained despised by many countries and distrusted by others. Even with the upturn in the economy, the return of a many jobs, and the growth of the military, the country had continued to stagnate and the population became more dissatisfied and apprehensive.

When all was said and done, the Republican President lost his re-election bid for a second term. Even with his successes of rebuilding the economy, the police, the military, and strengthening the borders, he remained unpopular and had only been slightly successful in controlling the home terrorist attacks. In the end being defeated in his bid for a second term, his destiny was to go down in history as the man who had helped to destroy the Republican Party. He was to ever be referred to as the last Republican ever to serve the country as President.

The dissolution of the Republican mantle came as no surprise considering that the last so-called conservative President turned out to be the same-old-same-old. He, like so many liberal politicians, had cleverly cajoled, lied, and tricked the general public.

Even though, the following Progressive candidates had been assured of the Democratic votes and the large Hispanic vote, there had been rumors that tactics of fear and harassment had been used on many opposing factions making it easy for the next twenty years to keep the pendulum in favor of the far left. Soon no one questioned whether or not elections had been rigged or how the major part of the population had been curtailed, duped, pressured or bribed!

There had been no doubt that with the liberal progressive's river of lies and deceit that they had been able to keep the uninformed, the unhappy, the loyal followers, and those overly dependent on the government blinded to the truth. Getting their votes with promises of more free entitlements and permanent government care from the cradle to the grave had been the greatest lure! The following years and three Progressive Presidents later had proven only to move the nation further and further to the left with big promises to secure the country.

Even the Nuclear Agreement with Iran seemed to go by the wayside as the Islam religion swept steadily across Europe. When the United States did not answer the pleas of other countries, citizens began to wonder if there had somehow been another side deal made with the old enemy. Still, it had appeared that the live and let live approach had to some extent kept America safe as Iran seemed satisfied to concentrate on becoming the central power in the Middle East aligning itself with Isis leaving Russia out in the cold fending its borders from the Islamic invasion.

These Progressive presidents' allegiance to Israel had continued to only be lip service when it came to defending the only democratic society in the Middle East. How the small democratic governed country, a small speck in the middle of those that hated them, survived had for years been a mystery, but a beacon for those oppressed and lost. For the religious, the small country seemed to miraculously have been protected by the hand of God.

With the downfall of international diplomacy going by the wayside, the closing of the borders, the slow increase in homegrown terrorism, and the suppression of religion as well as history, these Presidents put most of their attention into global warming, education, expanding government health care and building a stronger Progressive Doctrine. They also slowly increased the size as well as the powers of private inter-agency military style units within many federal agencies of the government. All in all, they believed that their biggest achievement had been the elimination of the Republican Party, to be more precise, the destruction of the two-party system.

In every election after that, the people's choices had been between a strong Liberal Progressive and a self-styled Conservative Progressive. Days, months and even years later, people were still wondering and discussing just how such a loss had happened. How did the Progressive Party secure such power? How had they eked out more and more control of Congress---causing the balance between liberals and so-called conservatives to slowly dwindle?

The two Liberal Progressive Presidents and the one-term Conservative Progressive President had with heavy hands squelched the disenfranchised, the rebellious and those with opposing opinions. Even as these demonstrators and radicals began to disappear so did racial bias. But the underlying unrest among the overwhelming number of conservatives also began to move underground and formed their own secret patriotic groups known as Vigilance.

H arper couldn't help it---her mind often replayed all the long and tedious research she had started in high school over and over again from the beginning to the present. After all she had only been a gleam in her parents' eye when the country's political system began to crumble. Little did she know that subconsciously she would grow up having to choose between her parents' ideologies!

Although there was only the progressive party per se, there were still many who secretly held more conservative views. Even within her family there was a division. Growing up, she and her brothers had been immersed in the day-to-day political events and had listened intently to their parents' strong opposing viewpoints.

Her father, Landon Townsend, had been a relatively unknown small town activist in the Progressive Party until at the age of twenty-three when he wrote what was described as a brilliant book---a detailed blueprint for the success of creating the perfect society. As a young student, he had studied the works of Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels, Vladimir Lenin, Leon Trotsky, and Georgi Piekhanov---just a few of the many authors he read that had a hand in forming his ideology.

But it was her mother, Rose Claybourne Townsend, who held a more moderate conservative view. She never relinquished her strong beliefs in the Constitution or the once proud Republic, which had been passed down through her side of the family. No matter how grueling and harsh the times---the Claybournes held tightly to their beliefs, religion, and inalienable rights.

Being way too smart and inquisitive growing up, it wasn't surprising that Harper chose a profession in which she could satisfy her curiosity. As a reporter, she was always eager as well as inclined to investigate almost everything that crossed her desk---especially if it related to political events. Even later when the extreme policies of government caused censoring of the media, she still continued to stick her nose where it didn't belong!

She and her older brother, Reid, had sided with their mother early in life when their father left the family to become the personal advisor to the President. At that time, she did not realize that her father might have had a hand in her achieving her ambitions to be a reporter.

Yet, even as she worked for the government media, she was digging deeply into past political situations, questioning and waging her own private battles against ideologies and beliefs that she did not hold. Now, here she was hovering in the dark with the possibility of discovery, and still she couldn't keep her mind on the present danger as she again was carried away aimlessly lost in her thoughts of the past---

After twenty years of heavy-handed control, decrease in the military, pushing global warming, and over indulgence of entitlements to the masses, there had been a totally astonishing event, but an exciting one for many people. Finally, the first woman President had been elected!

At first sight Margaret Huggins was not that outstanding, attractive or exciting. In fact, she was a rather plain and dull woman with extremely short-cropped hair and rather poor eyesight, which was enhanced by small wire rimed glasses. Physically, her tall thin frame only intensified her actions, attitudes, and sternness, which mimicked that of the male specie, but her choice of gender was never mentioned because of the strong inherent politically correct policies of the progressive government.

On the other side of the coin, she was an intelligent fifty-one year old woman and a master at manipulation as well as being extremely conniving. Previously a law professor and legal scholar, she had a record of walking on the edge and playing loose and free within the law. Even when everything seemed to be against her, she had a way of being able to dodge the bullet!

Back during the 2016 election, she had been a stanch supporter of the socialist candidate running for the Democratic nomination. She was twenty-seven, a law student at Harvard, and a product of the liberal education system. Not the least discouraged when her candidate lost, she just turned all of her talents to working harder toward the call for political revolution.

At the age of thirty-nine, a young and ambitious Margaret Huggins decided to run against the first Conservative Progressive in the 2028 election. She suffered a severe loss, realizing that she had possibly entering politics at too young an age without any real experience or defined platform. It gave her no gratification, even though the man, who had defeated her, ended up serving only one term---dying before the end of his fourth year.

The following six years after that, Huggins became a strong proponent for the far left of the party and worked diligently touting socialism and pushing atheism. In the same time period, she had read, studied, and become fascinated with Landon Townsend, a young dedicated advocate of socialism with a very logical and workable blueprint for creating the final socialistic goal of the perfect society.

When it had become obvious that the Party was slipping and began to stagnate, she sieged the opportunity to remake herself by positioning somewhere in the center. She appealed to a wide variety of people becoming the ideal choice for a new wave candidate in the 2040 election.

Being talented at maneuvering the truth, she never missed a chance to tout her gender, her years of experience, and her dedication to country as well as the general spiel that everyone mattered---not withstanding gender, race, party affiliation or social position! She was a master at convincing the people that her allegiance was with them---not the party!

She was determined to do what no progressive before her had ever been able to achieve---the ultimate goal of a perfect society. She knew that creating such a society would not only ensure her legacy, but also prove once and for all that socialism could work and work well! So she built her campaign around much of what she pulled together from Landon Townsend's book---Theory of the Perfect Society.

At the age of forty-nine, Margaret Huggins felt confident campaigning on basic promises of popular ideas like trimming down the government, cutting out the czar positions, and downsizing the cabinet in general---many things that the general overall population wanted.

On a wave of enthusiasm for new change, she was swept into office! Once there, President Margaret Huggins filled her Cabinet with powerful loyal ultra progressives. With a majority of Liberal Progressives in Congress, she had turned her attention to security. There was only one thing that she possessed that her predecessors had not---a special and personal advisor to guide her by the name of Landon Townsend.

Although previous Presidents had some success in the suppression of internal unrest and to some extent, radical terrorist, she pushed for more technology to insure safety and loyalty. That was the beginning of the development of the Argus-Eyes, a mini micro system, which watched every movement within the population of the country.

At the time, immigration was still a hot priority as the country had been flooded off and on with illegal aliens from all over the world pouring through the partially closed borders. President Huggins had no choice but to demonstrate that although she was a woman, she was strong and decisive and could get the borders under control which none of her predecessors had been able to do.

She began with some strong-arming by utilizing the local police, highway patrol, National Guard units and even the military---beefing up security along the border. Both borders were immediately closed and immigration brought to a halt as well as the smuggling of drugs. No one knew where the limits of life were drawn, but then again no one cared. With borders under control, she was able to put a stop to the dealing and distribution of illegal drugs and bring under control the legal use of these substances.

Illegals as well as any citizens suspected of having terrorist or other intentions had been immediately deported losing their visas or their citizenships although for years it was believed no one could achieve that particular concept. She brazenly stood by these decisions, giving the Federal Government the excuse to arrest anyone believed to oppose her new stronger government or agenda.

Next, more stringent policies and closer control over the news media and the Internet had been enforced. Lastly, she had re-instigated and strengthened the drone program to watch and keep a tighter control over the entire country. She had known that each and every one of her actions would be questioned, disliked and declared illegal---even Lawson Townsend, her personal advisor, had warned her that these changes might not be that popular at first but necessary none the less!

Still plowing ahead and following her socialist bible, she initiated a slow pullback of the few US military still stationed in parts the world, closing a number of those bases while promoting that these actions were done for the benefit of the nation. After all, she proclaimed, why keep a strong military presence throughout the world for the benefit of other countries when the money could be used within the United States? This particular move had been met with acceptance from over two-thirds of the population giving her the satisfaction that she was on the right course.

Once it appeared that things had been brought under authoritative control and the public had accepted heavily guarded borders and the new stronger immigration rules, she had rapidly moved toward expanding all of the politically correct programs in order to satisfy the far left progressives as well as those with alternate lifestyles. Levying fines and more stringent rules had proven that she was willing to go further than her progressive predecessors. By continuing to prohibit the use of certain words, sentences and ideas as well as forbidding the use of certain symbols, drawings, and gatherings, she had tightened and almost eliminated the freedom of speech.

As there were a number of things that worked well with her private agenda, it had not been too much of a stretch for her to accomplish the first part of the Townsend blueprint. The more conservative leaning progressives got a tighter control within the borders while those progressives leaning more to the left got to keep their safe havens and gun free zones. In other words, she had followed Townsend's Give and Receive Rule of giving everyone something that they desired in order to receive loyalty---the conservatives more security and the liberals a continuance of their wish of more tolerance and leniency for drugs and non-violent criminals.

President Huggins had tapped into another less intense but extremely emotional election promise of hers---to increase the minimum wage across the board with a keen eye on moving the pay scale closer together and consequently decreasing the divisions between laborers and professionals. She not only had hoped to increase her popularity, but in the end to establish equal pay for everyone. Methodically, the President, her Cabinet and her progressive Congress began with small changes in the existing laws as they had begun to implement in the end the economic theory that advocated: by reducing inequalities among the division of labor more equality would be produced within the wages.

Before President Huggins' first term came to a close, she had quietly and behind the scenes restarted the reconstruct of the police departments throughout the country---making them more compliant to Federal laws instead of state laws. Also, more administrative control over all the inter-agency armed enforcement officers establishing a second line of loyalty to the President. It was an imperative part of the makeover---Townsend's Consolidation of Force Rule Part I! The administration needed total compliance and loyalty from these law enforcement units and agencies not only to keep the peace but also to control the population from a distance.

In hindsight, the mistake on the Conservative Progressive side had been that in order to hold on to what peace and tranquility had been gained they remained silent. So with a content and relativity happy majority of the population, Margaret Huggins had won a second term by a landslide running on the promises of continued peace, prosperity, and tranquility! No one could argue with the fact that things had appeared to be moving in the right direction with no visible dissension or insurrection on the horizon.

The people also had followed up by voting in a greater number of Liberal Progressives into Congress. Now, President Huggins believed more than ever that she had been given a true mandate on her changes! Now after four years of understanding and seeing how seamlessly Landon Townsend's blueprint had worked, she was now ready to move more vigorously ahead with the stronger socialist agenda outlined in Townsend's book!

H arper silently sighed as the soldiers slowly and methodically continued moving toward her hiding place checking alleyways, locked doors, and every nook and cranny in their view. She had finally gotten her nerves under control again. Although the black shirts were getting closer, they were still far enough away that she could make a dash for it if she found it necessary. Vividly she remembered the beginning of President Huggins' second term. She had just turned eleven and resented the fact that her father was now suddenly missing in action . As the President demanded more and more of her father's time, he grew more estranged from the family.

Replaying many of her mother's words over and over again as well as remembering her own personal impressions at the time, she could almost count each of Landon Townsend's Rules throughout President Huggins' next four years. Her thoughts again began to reach backward into the past---

At the start of President Huggins' second term, a number of rehabilitation centers had been setup all over the country---places very similar to drug rehab hospitals but much more controlled and stringent. All the people who refused to work, committed crimes, overly abused drugs, as well as those individuals who were lazy, rebellious, or did not follow the new laws, were sent to these centers. It was obvious to those that had read the socialist bible that these centers were the next step---Townsend's Practical Centers Rule. Everyone got a second chance before they were what the government designated as decommissioned---placed where they would be cared for the rest of their lives but would not be able to influence others or put an undue strain on the new forward looking society.

At the same time, all healthcare facilities such as hospitals, clinics and medical centers were all incorporated into what would become the local MedCare Clinics. Even old Panned Parenthood Centers, which had been shielded for years by the government, were also incorporated into these local clinics.

In cooperation with the left's desire for the President to re-address global warming, she took this opportunity to redirect everyone's attention to all the energy sources which had slowly moved the country totally away from what was classified as dirty fuel. Although previous progressive Presidents had concentrated on building more windmills in the mid-west, using more solar panels out west, and started trying to harness waterpower along the eastern seaboard, she picked up where they had left off by putting money into expanding each of these and into other new developments. She kept her promise that by the end of her second term many of these new and revolutionary ideas would be put into operation in every home, business, public facility, or to be more specific, everything connected into alternate energy sources.

Even a proclamation that everyone had to be tested and placed into categories by using their intelligence, aptitude and physical traits, was taken with a grain of salt by the populace. After all, if they desired to have totally equal job opportunities, equal living conditions, and equal pay, then it was explained that these tests were designed to accomplish that final goal. Here Townsend's Test and Educate Rule was avidly applied. Another old slogan had been revitalized---the end justifies the means!

During the next few years, contentment had been manifested throughout the entire country giving the administration the opportunity to wrap up the final methodical reorganization of all law enforcement departments, narrowing the use of recreational and medical drugs, reinitiating the establishment of new energy sources, and combining all the military services into one---the Elite Force. In the new military, everyone was equal with none striving to be the best---Townsend's Consolidation of Force Rule Part II.

After all, when the media outlets had been put under the control of the Federal Government, there had been little outcry about it. Even the secret and slow confiscation of certain companies within the free market had not stirred any opposition---such as banking institutes, automotive productions, energy suppliers and computer hardware engineering. Soon in addition to these businesses and industries, the stock exchange and private housing had quietly come under government control. All these seizures had been explained away as being necessary for leveling the playing fields in order to bring about equality among the masses.

Housing had been systematically redistributed, jobs had begun to be assigned, salaries had started to be fixed and the government had automatically begun to take the bulk of everyone's paycheck. Finally, many rejoiced to see Townsend's Total Equality Rule not only implemented but close to being completed.

Although education remained the backbone of progressive ideals and beliefs, schools had become much more stringent and controlled---especially higher learning. High schools had become places where students either progressed to college or the work place, and the universities had been re-designed to consist of only three areas of study---political, military and technology. Education being the key to everything from daycare to college was to be the means of achieving the end---Townsend's Educational Functionality Rule.

There had been very little outrage within the public arena. During this period of change large numbers of disgruntled individuals had been sent to Rehab Centers to be retrained. Certain Southern states, at this time, had became known for their success in the rehabilitation of abundant numbers of individuals being moved back into the communities as useful citizens. Even the other states had begun to ship their unsuccessful inmates to the South in exchange for many ultra loyal Liberal Progressives.

To top off her second term, President Huggins had urged Congress to repeal the Twenty-second Amendment to the Constitution in order that she could pursue a third term. Not since President Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected to a fourth term had there been any president who had served more than two terms---that was until Margaret Huggins.

There was not much uproar as it had been done fast and quick so that most individuals would never know that a vote had taken place or that her name would appear on the next election ballot in order to secure a third term.

Again running on strong national security, more extensive redistribution of wealth, and an excellent economy, Margaret Huggins had not only outlined her agenda for a perfect society but she made sure that she had a popular Progressive as her running mate. By gaining the support of both factions, she easily won a third term. Since everything else that had come before had progressed at such a slow pace, the people believed her when she assured them that her third term was only a temporary situation until she could complete her agenda and dissolve the entire government into this perfect society of hers!

H arper shook her head, causing a few strains of wild curly red hair to slip out from under the black cap. For a long time knowing that her thoughts at times were treasonous, she had learned to curb her feelings and emotions or at least she believed she had that talent. But there were times within her own brain that she could not keep from wondering why it had taken her personally so long to realize that her father's writings were in fact the administration's agenda? Did she resent the fact that her father worked for the President so much that she blinded herself from believing what exactly he was?

By the age of fourteen, she had formed strong opinions on Landon Townsend whom everyone knew and praised. Even his rare sporadic visits home did nothing to change her mind---they only seemed to strengthen her judgment.

Within six years, she was a full-fledge reporter digging into Margaret Huggins' past history. It took her awhile to realize that it could only go from worse to worse in Huggins' third term when Congress extended the term of President to eight years and the 2052 election was skipped.

Now Harper seemed to always try to relive in the past by reviewing everything leading up to this day trying to figure out what should have been done at the start to prevent all of this while at the same time trying to figure if anything could be done now to change it. Again her mind started to wander as she thought about that third term---

During President Huggins' third term, the country had begun to push head long toward a totalitarian government. The political authority of the country had begun exercising more and more absolute control over all aspects of an individual's life---requiring and demanding subordination for the good of the society.

The government, within forty-two years of complete progressive rule, had finally taken complete control over the individual's life. Although the young people had become so indoctrinated at an early age, they failed to realize how domineering the government had become.

Now the government was providing all the basic needs---a nice home, a car, Internet television, computers, cell phones, general entertainment in addition to free health care, free education, free transportation, and of course work clothes.

The IRS was abolished, a more stringent work dress code was established, the Elite Forces were scrubbed, and technology advanced by leaps and bounds. All old technology was replaced and Argus-eyes began to show up everywhere.

There was no longer a division between the wealthy or the poor, as only two classes had been created to exist---the middle class and the political class. The atmosphere around the country was one of contentment and satisfaction. There was no envy, no homeless, no starving, no illness, no crime, no sloth, no uneducated---everyone worked, everyone was healthy, everyone was educated, everyone had a roof over their head and food on their table---in fact equality existed and the perfect society was supreme. Landon Townsend's perfect society had become a reality!

For twelve years, comfort, contentment and compliance played the biggest part in the acceptance, and the President turned from the Townsend blueprint to her own personal agenda. Slowly, she had been quietly taking away one freedom at a time with every new proclamation order, repealed law or new law. With a progressive President, Cabinet and majority in Congress, it became much too easy to continue with the objective of moving the United States into the world socialist column. That was the true beginning of the complete loss of all freedoms and of the country!

The military Elite Force had been quietly scrubbed and reorganized into a leaner military machine---a smaller one, which was totally progressive and loyal to the administration. Many soldiers who were believed to be disloyal had been sent to Rehab Centers to be retrained for the work force. Others found their way into states believed to be more sympathetic to them while many others believed to be staunchly loyal remained as sleepers within government positions throughout the Midwest and South!

At this time, Landon Townsend pushed for the country to be divided into four parts by convincing Huggins that it would give her stronger and more control by putting a single individual in complete charge who would be only accountable to her. She appointed a Head of Security with total authority to oversee each District reporting directly to her by passing all states officers as well as Federal officers.

Still, there was an underlying restlessness among certain segments of the country. More and more individuals obsessed with getting their lost freedoms back had begun to work tirelessly with the group called Vigilance. The underground movement had by then become more expansive and smart.

Before the end of her third term the President once again had gone before Congress and influenced them to change the four-year term of a President to an eight-year term. Her argument was that since the Progressive Party had no one to oppose her there was no logical reason for her as sitting President to have to go through an election for another term.

As the completion of the eighth year of her third term came to a close, she knew that she had set a new precedence for any future President. But the woman wasn't finished yet! Under the delusion that she no longer needed anyone, she began leaking the idea of possibly abolishing both houses of Congress as well as the do-nothing Supreme Court. Landon Townsend warned her of her folly, but she believed she was loved by the people and invincible.

She unexpectedly met with a whispering campaign which grew louder and louder among the populace worrying---if that, what next? It was at this time that Vigilance began to quietly and slowly come out of the shadows warning of the imminent dangers around them. They began by leaving flyers all over the countryside encouraging quiet disobedience---short of violence.

Quickly seeing the error in her ways, she immediately asked for Landon Townsend's counsel. As a man self-absorbed with his own glory, he could not just sit by and do nothing to save his perfect society from someone determined to destroy it. So, with hope of righting the sinking ship and possibly changing the course of the administration, he re-plotted a path for Huggins to get things back on a course more in line with his own ambitions.

It was easy to persuade her that by continuing to let the people elect their state representatives as well as their own representatives to Congress would quell the uproar. Taking his advice that she needed to show that she was the President of all the people, he suggested that she choose an unknown non-political individual who just happened to be what was called ages ago an Independent as her running mate. Lastly by appealing to her vanity, he had strongly suggested that she think about seriously announcing retirement at the end of the eight years, in order to show that she shared the people's wishes to move on. After all, she would turn eighty by that time, and she needed to pick and begin grooming a successor---even if she decided on a possible fifth term.

The people listened and believed the words that the President spoke---words massaged and generated for her by Landon Townsend. Again they felt there would finally be a passing of the baton. Little did they know!

Although they had no opposition and the upcoming 2056 election ended up being a walk in the park for her, she was relieved to be granted another eight-year term to possibly achieve her destiny. The country had surely moved deeper into the category of a totalitarian government as no one stood in the President's way any longer!

L eaning against the dirty brick wall, Harper let out a short breath of air as her lungs were beginning to hurt from constantly constricting her breathing. She knew that she needed to make a decision to get a better control over the beating of her heart otherwise it just might burst with the fear she was starting to endure. How had she become like this---quivering in fear? Never before had she ever really been afraid of anything or anyone. Was it just fear of the unknown? Or maybe it was the excitement and acceleration of finally doing something?

Harper could feel the wet coldness of the old brick began to seep through her clothing. But right now, she had to rely on her own wits and calculating mind to stay safe from discovery. If she could only make herself totally flush against the old wall maybe she would remain far enough out of the sight and hearing of the black shirts.

Yet, she couldn't stop her mind from jumping around remembering the beginning of what might just be remembered as the end of one era and the beginning of another. Stifling a sigh, Harper realized that her mind was not yet ready to let go and concentrate on the present as her thoughts wandered back starting with the fourth term---

It had been a black day for many when Margaret Huggins took the oath of President for a fourth term. Obviously the election had been a farce as the people had traded their votes once again for entitlements.

Once everything settled down, the President began to seriously think once again about eliminating the one thing that stood between her and complete power. Within months, the people as always settled into acceptance of the dominating and inflexible government---especially when it appeared that there was not only an absence of hostilities but also a harmonious relationship between all the races.

The Progressive members of Congress had for a long time been using their voting power to slowly destroy the Constitution. Now they were prepared to follow the President's lead once again. This she could not be deterred from doing---repeal that one particular Amendment.

When the government went about getting the Twenty-second Amendment repealed, it had been rather easy as most of the states cared less who sat in the White House for an additional third or fourth term. But now they needed another positive vote from the states of the Union. Realizing that more supremacy was needed within each state, the administration decided to pack the state legislatures with ultra Liberal Progressives.

Just as they had earlier found it easy to reorganize and revamp police departments and the military services, as well as the schools, universities, businesses, banks, and the stock exchange, the government had believed that they would, without much effort but a hard push, secure total control of all the state legislatures before the end of her fourth term.

But as the years passed and feelings stagnated, the major population had become more agitated and less docile. Urged verbally and quietly by the Vigilance groups, many began to desire once again freedom, justice and the American dream.

Those men and women, who had for years been working quietly behind the scenes and in the shadows, were beginning to see their hard work start to come full circle. Suddenly, hope of one day turning it all around seemed so much closer and possible. These individuals had been the seeds that had been planted many years previously in order to preserve and pass on the beliefs not only in state's rights but also individuality!

S he glanced at her wrist only to discover that she had left her watch at home. Knowing that time was getting short and the soldiers were getting close, she began to wonder if something had happened to her contact. Her gut told her to leave---to run---to head for home! Still, she stayed continuing think about the past. How in the beginning was it that everyone silently went along with each and every change? When all the money was confiscated, no one complained since no one objected to the total redistribution of wealth. Was the complete take over of the media, free enterprise and banking so easily achieved because everyone seemed to look the other way? Even when it became close-up and personal, people kept their mouths shut as the government seized private properties.

Although they lived within a very constraint and Argus-eyed society, it appeared that the majority of the country had been satisfied and content with their lives. They had not only willing been gratified by the government, but had become complacently smug as they went about their daily lives in what they discerned was peace and harmony.

In the background, there had remained a fraction, a wide-spread rebel resistance over the years, ready to lay down their lives fighting to win their freedoms back at a moment's notice. This was where the country was headed during that fifth elected term of President Huggins. Again, Harper let her thoughts wonder---

As the fourth term of President Huggins came to a close, they were able to claim a partial victory within the legislatures of the states. The government had been wrong and it took two election cycles even though they did everything possible to get many Liberal Progressives elected to the state legislatures. It wasn't as if there had been a real open armed resistance or anything like that, but a good number of citizens in certain states, mainly the South, voted to insure keeping control within the state and out of Federal hands. But it was the Southern District, which kept a majority of conservatives in office through the power of the vote. The other three Districts were pretty evenly dispersed except in ten states where the socialists were in total control.

It had been over fifty years since the first progressive Presidents had tried to push for the repeal of the Second Amendment. President Huggins was determined to accomplish that as part of her legacy. She began her campaign to finally bring the country into line with other countries by disarming the population. With Landon Townsend out of the way, the state governments in line, and the population content with the state of affairs, there was no one standing between her and her vision.

Within a month, the President had convinced Congress to quickly propose, adopt, and ratify the Second Amendment. Then it was fast tracked directly to the individual states to be ratified. In the end, there had been more than enough Liberal Progressives elected to state houses, and they were able to help squeak out a bare minimum of three-fourths of the states---giving the President the final power that she needed for repealing the Second Amendment.

Now that the Progressive Party finally had what they had strived toward from the beginning---the repeal of the Second Amendment, total overbearing control and a perfect society. After that there was no stopping the government---they were free to mold the country exactly into the socialistic image!

Anyone who was a threat disappeared or was exterminated. Still, there was no resistance, or people believed there was none. Now, it was words spoken out of context or neighbors giving testimony against their friends and family that kept the Liberal Progressives in control!

By the end of 2060, a proclamation demanding that all guns must be turned in voluntarily by the end of April, 2061. Anyone found disobeying the new law by hoarding weapons would be severely dealt with.

Even against the public outcry, the government refused to reverse the President's edict. Worried and fearful of the future of the country and since so many of the rights of the people had been repealed, many individuals went to the extreme of hiding and burying their weapons in fear of the future. Only those who were strongly committed to their new comfortable lives were willing to give up their right to bear arms.

At that time, one state put up a strong resistance---Texas. Forty-six years previously, Texas had been the state that stood up against President Kaemon's use of Presidential powers to give illegal aliens amnesty as well as bringing a lawsuit against him for reaching out beyond his legal rights and continually abusing his Executive Powers. Believing it would be more compliant for the progressive government to just increase the Elite Forces within that state and bring them back into the fold, she made diplomatic overtures to the Texas state legislature.

When it looked as if President Huggins might stymie the movement, New Mexico and Arizona made noises of falling into step with the lone star state. All of a sudden, the threat of one state had been tripled. President Huggins knew that could be disastrous, but she did not have the manpower to stop them because she had neglected the military for years letting it grow lazy and complacent.

Afraid that this defiance might catch fire, and other states around the country might follow, she knew that a red line had to be drawn. The President made a show that she was not only willing to use the drone program as a spy tool but also as a weapon, if necessary. At the same time, a new program had been setup to quickly increase the size of the military ranks. Besides the young college military men drafted to serve, a large number of soldiers had also been pulled from the surrounding states leaving rather Skeleton crews to insure the loyalty of these Southern states.

For months, the government had held the three states at bay without any fighting on either side. By bolstering the military and using the extremely loyal black shirts from the surrounding states, she was able to tighten the control along the border, adverting bloodshed and gaining stronger support from the people.

Margaret Huggins had been in power for nearly twenty years, and she had worked hard breaking down the Constitution so she wouldn't have to relinquish the Presidency. As sure as she was that she had the upper hand and could declare herself President for life, she was reluctant to out and out do so. Under the guise of the words protection, security, and prosperity, President Huggins believed she was assured her position in history. If she continued repeating it enough, showed enough strength, and kept the people under her thumb, she would never have to go through another election as she was determined to hold on to the country until death.

Even at the age of seventy-nine, Margaret Huggins was still ruling more like a dictator with an iron fist---even though she referred to herself as President of the Free World! Where would it end? How would it end?

A t this particular moment in time, Harper Claybourne was caught between a rock and a hard place . She was definitely breaking curfew and had no legitimate excuses for it. She was considered part of the Federal Government and if caught she would surly be severely punished by the Head of Security as an example. Even through she worked for the Federal Television Network, a government owned and operated media outlet, she was not exempt from punishment. It mattered not whether you were a man, woman or child---it only mattered that you observed the rules. And the Head of Security was the one who interpreted those rules and exacted the government's pound of flesh !

In order to control the shaking of her hands she made a tight fist but the fast beating of her heart was another matter. She was sure that the black shirts would hear it pounding and discover her hiding place. The stomping of the boots were coming closer and closer as they paused a moment every few feet along the way to check out the dark crevasses and corners along the street. Tightly closing her light gray eyes, she silently prayed that she was pressed back deeply enough into the recesses of the old building where she might not to be found. Yet, something was gnawing at her---some kind of quantum phenomena that she could not clearly understand.

As she stood there with her eyes shut tightly, a hand roughly encircled her mouth pressing hard to restrain any sound she might accidently make. Then just as swiftly a strong arm was wrapped about her tiny waist pulling her backward into a rock hard body. She automatically reached upward with her right hand grabbing where she figured the face might be---only to discover that a balaclava protected it.

Dropping her arm in surrender, all she could think of was that she had been discovered and was being dragged away from the safety of the wall. She felt that she was definitely in immediate danger, since whoever was holding her was as dark as the night! But if he was with the black shirts, why stifle her cries, remain hidden, and not alert the others?

She questioned herself whether or not she should fight and scream. Why? The others in the street would only come and that would make everything that much worse since she had the feeling that this person did not wish to be discovered either. Could he be a lone wolf or maybe a rebel? If that were true, why would he