Back to top 25th November 2005

"What do you mean? The city above seems to be some kind of an idealistic society." Cogil said.

Though it was hard to see the face of this new figure Cogil knew already the figure was a cold calculating kind of personality. The kind of person that would have questions for the status quo no matter what it happened to be. Still, this was an intriguing development.

"Oh, you think so do ya?", the figure said, "Perhaps to some of them, but the mysterious power holding this place together had a flaw. Some say the power was designed by humans who purposefully left a the flaw, while others think by the very nature of humanity a creation can't help but have a flaw in some form. Whatever the case may be, I am the result of this flaw. I think outside of the norm for the city of Towz, I find the declared reality of the city to be dull and far too perfect to be real."

"What do you mean?" Ryan asked.

"Don't you think something has to maintain this status? Every action has a reaction and every artificially created perfect society has indirect consequences and side effects..."

"Man, you're boring. Get to the point." Ryan interrupted the figure. He had been watching and listening to the figure the whole time, his expression changing slightly the whole time.

"Yes, I'm getting there. As I was saying, there is in fact something that maintains this city's idealistic form. A morally reprehensible thing in fact that would perhaps astonish many citizens of Towz." the figure said.

"And just how do you know this?" Cogil asked.

"As I said, there is a flaw in how the city works and maintains it's idealism. At least Towzians would call it a flaw. Like a dam holding back a lot water some seepage is necessary to maintain this status. Similarly there are many details of the human psyche and human nature that must be held back in order for Towz to exist as it does. That seepage, so to speak, would be citizens who exibit an unusual amount of indipendent thought question of authority. This, planned or not, actually helps maintain the status of Towz. That is, until the group I represent discovered what they did. This discovery, it could change everything."

"Enough." Ryan said. "What don't you just tell us what's going on here? Who are you? Jerome already said his little group of outsiders had discovered something of a plot to..." the figure interrupted.

"Yes, I have heard of the efforts of Jerome's group. They have the right idea but are ultimately on the wrong track entirely. As for my name" the figure paused to take off his hat and reveal his face.

"Adrian? What the hell are you doing here? How's that even possible?" Ryan asked.

"Well, it's kind of a long story. The transition had various effects on various details of mankind. Ironic a former paid protestor organizer is now the indipendent thinking individual in a city of seeming conformity." Adrian said.

"Alright, what's going on any way? Who are you really?" Vincent was asking.

"This is indeed a disturbing turn of events. I must go back to my four conter-parts and tell what I have learned. I will contact you later." Jerome said.

Jerome started climbing the stairs, soon he was gone from the group.

"Ok, so what is all about Adrian?" Vincent was asking.

"Long story", Adrian said, "I won't go into it now. The point is people like me exist in this city. We help it exist. But we can't leave even if we want to. All I have learned so far is that a --"

"Yes, yes. Morally reprehensible force maintains the city. You already said that. What do you want us to do about it? What are we doing here?" Cogil interrupted.

"I want you join my small group of imperfect people and help us find this secret. Eventually we will reform the city to such a state those who would like leave may do so." Adrian said.

"Ok, so where is this group?" Cogil asked.

"This way." Adrian invited them to follow.

The room all of them had been in up until this point was at the bottom of a long spiral stair case. The room seemed to be completely sealed by an an elaborate brick work all around it. Yet some how Adrian seemed to effortlessly find a hidden doorway and make his way through it. When all were through the door re-sealed itself behind them. As the group moved through the tunnel Vincent started to think how really weird this really was. An ideal city? Some ill-defined power some how maintaining the city? What a bizarre idea it all was.  ¶ 9:40 AM