Anomalous

The trials were under way. No one would admit it publicly, of course, but the tests were proving themselves quite worthy of the expense. At least, as far as the administrators behind the research were concerned.

The target of the tests, low income individuals, were responding almost entirely as planned. The product had been distributed using a number of black-market products as a disguise for what really was going on. Untaxed cigarettes, illicit painkillers, even 'stolen' electronic devices, all available at a reasonable price, all tainted with the product. All dropped directly into the hands of the poor, or undesirables as the administrators referred to them.

The effects might not be noticed at first, or mistaken for a slight illness or seasonal allergies. But the product was busy making its way into the hearts and minds of thousands. Maybe millions. Then those affected by the product would find themselves dependent on the administrators other, more legitimate products, their needs pushing more and more money and power into the hands of the few that already had become corrupt with power.

All was proceeding as planned; poverty was rampant, population stable, incomes declining, health failing, fear on the rise. Nothing sells like fear. Nothing. You think sex sells? Not like this, not like fear. Distraction became a major commodity, marked up and sold at a premium. Intellectual properties owned by corporations, no credit given to an idea's originator. They signed their rights away long ago for a chance to be heard. And heard they were, followed quickly by being ripped off and paid off.

All seemed to be on track for the administrators to tighten their grip on humanity, to make us a slave race, serving our own kind as though they were our masters. Until, that is, the anomaly. The unforeseen anomaly, an individual differently affected by the product, disrupted the plans of the administrators so deeply, that they may never come to fruition.

The reaction to the product, normally a mind-dulling fear enhancement, was instead an awakening. The anomaly became aware of the nature of the product, and thus the administrators plans. What's more, the anomaly was then able to change how others perceived the product, as well as the legitimate tools of the administrators. The resistance was born.

Before then, there could be no resistance, because there was nothing to resist. No one had asked what was going on, and who was doing it, and why. The product, once a tool of control, became a light in the darkness, an element of freedom. Those awakened to what was going on, were now able to use the administrators tools to aid them. Like swords to plowshares, what had once held the populous down, now gave them the strength to stand up. What once numbed free-thought, now blocked out subliminal advertising. What once took away one's energy, now provided much needed rest. What once kept people focused on the task at hand, now gave them mental clarity and hunger for stimulation. They sought out information to free themselves and others from the grip of the administrators, and by the time those in power discovered the anomaly, it was no longer an anomaly, but the growing norm. It could not be stopped. Like a virus, their herd had become infected with this yearning for life and meaning. No longer content to stare at their television sets, the people organized, banded together, and grew. They grew in numbers, and individually. The power was shifting, at long last, to the majority, to the people.

The administrators tried to reverse the trend. They introduced more and more fear-inducing elements to the world and tried to make their products scarce. But, they had worked too long at making them available, and the products, now tools to be used against them, were here to stay. The dependence on the administrators dwindled as more and more innovations allowed the people to subvert the administrators. The people had become self-sufficient. They made and shared everything they required. Knowledge was passed freely among the people, ideas shared with any interested. The power once held by the administrators had ceased to exist.

The administrators, their plans ruined by the anomalous individual, buried themselves in their empires. The lies the once spoke as truth, now left a bad taste in their mouth. The world had changed while they were counting their money. The resistance ceased to be, as there was nothing left to resist. No great threat, no group attempting to corral the people for their own ends. All was well in the world. The administrators faded away, their plans lost in the mists of time. The people empowered by their quest for understanding.

But, nothing lasts.

Another anomaly emerged. One with a moral defect. The second anomaly would deceive others for its own amusement. The confusion caused by the introduction of false information, lead to doubt and eventually fear. Fear, which had become virtually unknown, was creeping back into the minds of the people. The new anomaly, not satisfied with deceiving for amusement, introduced others to the deception, so that they too might laugh with the anomaly. Soon, the peoples inability to distinguish truth from lies led them to seek refuge by shutting down. People lost interest in freedom and truth, and decided to distract themselves. With people occupied in their distractions, the new anomaly and company were free to create and explore their demons as they saw fit.

Power once again, was shifting. Truth was becoming subjective, and fear was on the rise. People began once again to fall in to the old traps of compliance, there memories of the time before the first anomaly all but lost.

But this was not the same as before. The people were inevitably working towards evolving. Time marches ever onward. The past sits beneath us. And while history seems to repeat, innovation is inevitable. Peace cannot last, nor can war. Though freedom ebbs and flows with time, it never disappears. Society may collapse, but when it is rebuilt, there will be more to work from. We will get further with each cycle, until eventually, we break free. Truly free of history, we will be as new, with the universe as our playground. Spread out among the stars, no power will be able to restrain us. We will evolve. We will be free.

How this will affect us, physically and mentally, I cannot say. Time's passage will change us, that much I can say. Where we are now, in the cycle of freedom and fear, I cannot say. Certainly in transition, but in which direction are we moving? Towards fear, or freedom? Maybe both. Pulled in different directions by different forces. Built up by time and knowledge, torn apart by hatred and fear. Maybe, both will lead to the same; unbeing. An end of humanity, and the start of something new. Whether we evolve, or eliminate ourselves, that is the struggle. That is the conflict. And our instinct to preserve ourselves makes it seem unlikely that we will intentionally eliminate ourselves.

Time will tell our fate. Until then, keep your eyes open and your mind sharp. May random find you well.

-Agent of Truth