Chapter Two - The Election
The three of us walked out of the house, and Jordan hailed a robocab. The GPSs on our com chips mapped out locations outside our house and began a two-hour countdown, the maximum amount of time we were allowed to spend outside per day. Any longer, and we’d be penalized under public safety laws for the good of society.
The sleek yellow robocab appeared in no time, and we hopped in. Jordan punched in the stadium’s name on the touchscreen. The robotaxi would ordinarily check our social credit scores before determining if we could go to the selected location. Today it said, “civic obligation confirmed,” in a cheerful voice, then sped off as if it was worried we’d change our minds and stay home instead. It also suspended our two-hour countdown timer as an incentive for us to fulfill our public duty. Jordan gave me a rare smile. This was one of the first outdoor activities we’d done in a while. It was also the last. He said, “Dad, you’re dripping with excitement, try to control yourself.”
I replied, “You ain’t seen nothing yet. I’m saving myself for the main event.” I thought of the upcoming election. It was almost comical watching entitled teenagers with more followers than sense competing to pretend they’re making a difference to the community. Still, credits were credits, and the only way for a man of my social standing to travel across the city to see my family. To me, it was a bad joke after growing up in a world where I’d taken movement for granted.
Nadia chimed in. “I can’t believe I’m going to see Miss Miroi for real today. I’m her biggest fan. And I saw the trailer online. The Hip Hop Bots performing at half-time. We better get good seats.”
“At least someone was excited about the event. I didn’t know who she was talking about and didn’t care.
The robocab mapped out the location and other vehicles on the road and took us on our way. We drove past dilapidated apartment blocks and long-abandoned factories dotting the gloomy grey landscape. The scenery changed to massive box-like data centers as we got closer to the stadium. Each was miles long and surrounded by barbed-wire fences and security cameras, as if they were mankind’s crowning achievements.
The robotaxi arrived at the gates around ten minutes later, and we joined the jostling crowd of twenty thousand trying to get into the stadium. We looked out of place in casual clothes. Everyone else was wearing clothes featuring their favorite candidates, and some carried flags and banners with their faces and slogans.
The queue moved quickly, and soon we reached the stadium gates. Digital banners displayed images of the candidates, and video ads from their sponsors were shown. I noticed the cracks in the structure from a lack of maintenance over the years. It wasn’t surprising. Live events were a thing of the past, and it was only used for the monthly mayoral election.
Still, it was packed to capacity, and Jasmine had been right about us struggling to find seats if we arrived late. I felt guilty for not taking her advice because I wanted Nadia to enjoy the show from good seats, even though I didn’t care about it myself.
People only got one day a month to gather freely, and they made the most of it, with groups of families and friends all trying to sit close together. They thronged up and down the stands while the giant screens bombarded them with gambling ads to bet on the winning candidate.
We were allocated seats far away from the stage at the top of the grandstand. Jordan led the way while I followed with Nadia holding my hand. It was her first election, and she looked around in astonishment at the sight of so many people in one place.
We needed to squeeze past an enhanced teenage couple with robotic implants before sitting in the cramped seats.
“That’s amazing. I want eyes like that,” said Nadia, pointing to a girl around the same age with huge blue eyes that made her look like an anime character.
I said, “You’re beautiful the way you are,” not wanting to give her ideas.
“Don’t worry, you’ll get them soon,” said Jordan.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked. I hated freaky robotics and didn’t want anyone butchering my granddaughter.
“Don’t worry,” said Jordan with a shrug.
What he said bugged me, but I didn’t take it further. He saw a vendor selling veggie dogs and couldn’t resist.
Jordan flagged him down and ordered one for each of us with a shot of sugar-free soda on the side. I was glad he was treating us because of my low account balance. It was the closest thing to meat I’d had in months, and I barely noticed the chemical aftertaste while I savored each bite. Then I washed it down with a single-sip diet soda. It was delicious, and I would’ve bought another if I could’ve afforded it.
Nadia got excited when she saw an advert for the Kanine Krew Afterparty show coming to streaming soon.
She said, “Hey, there’s our new company.”
“Ya, replied Jordan. Looking away from me.
“Granddad, you better watch my show,” said Nadia.
“What show?” I said.
“Oh. I’ll be working with Mum. Performing with her.”
“Really?” I said.
Jordan said, “Relax, Dad, she’s almost 15 now. They want to make her into a star.”
“Doing what?”
“Dunno yet. Probably some streaming shows. Sandy’s handling it.”
“I don’t like it. Don’t get her involved with those weirdos.”
“They’re going to change our lives. Besides, I won’t let anything bad happen to her.
He put his arm around her and kissed her cheek.
“Ew, Dad. Your breath stinks,” said Nadia.
I couldn’t help laughing.
At 12 pm on the dot, a man in a sparkly silver tuxedo walked out onto the stage to a huge roar from the crowd.
He waved his arms and said, “Hi everyone. I’m your host, Mr Glam. Glad you could all make it today.
Are you having a good time?
All the screens flashed with the word “yes,” and the crowd shouted it out.
“Are you guys ready to vote?”
The crowd screamed, “Yes!”
I said, “Are you ready to vote?”
The crowd went wild.
“Let me introduce you to candidate number one. He’s just 19 years old and has over a billion followers. Hailing from Red Gardens, it’s the amazing Big Boy Billy, known for his hit song Big Big Willy .”
A man who must have been at least 400 pounds, with gold chains draped over his shirtless chest, wearing huge designer sunglasses, entered the stage on an air chair.
He said, “Ya’ll know me for my badass beats and fucking over 2,000 bitches. I’m here to boss the city. Shit’s gonna be off the chain when I’m in charge.”
The crowd went wild, clapping and cheering. I’d never heard of him, but the crowd certainly had.
The Me Glam asked him, “What’s your election promise?”
“I’m all about the environment, man. I promise no more inter-city travel from poor areas. If you ain’t got the cash, stay home and make some before asking the city to pay for you. Don’t waste our energy, peace.”
The crowd stood up and applauded.
We already needed a high social credit score to move around the city, and more restrictions would stop me from seeing my family.
Jordan said, “He’s talking to you, Dad.”
“Piss off,” I replied.
He chuckled at me.
Big Boy Billy gasped for breath and continued. A big shout-out to Yellow Ice Jewelers, The Kanine Krew, Don G sunglasses, and the City Municipality for sponsoring me.”
He dropped the microphone and the hovering armchair he was sitting on drifted behind the curtain.
Mr Glam stepped out once more. “A commendable promise from Big Boy Willy that it will be amazing for the environment. Vote for him and stand a chance of winning a pair of his signature shades and a gold chain with his face in imitation diamonds.
And now for the next candidate. She’s 20 years old and has 1.2 billion followers. Hailing from Ridgeview, it’s Sexilicious Delicious.”
A blonde in a white thong and matching pasties over her nipples pranced onto the stage in stripper heels and blew kisses to the audience.
She snatched the microphone from Mr Glam and said, “I love you all. I’ll be, like, the best mayor ever because I know how to perform when things get rough. She winked at the crowd, who went berserk.
Mr Glam asked her, “What’s your election promise?”
“I’ll ban people over 40 from voting. They’re like, out of touch with what’s hot and just don’t get it. They make it harder for us, young folk, to get things done.”
I didn’t know who was worse. The fools on stage who thought they could change things when they were pawns for their sponsors. Or the idiots who voted for them, thinking they’re making a difference to the world.
“Sexilicious Delicious said, “Before I go, I just want to thank my sponsors, Fabuloso Couture, The Kanine Crew, and the City Municipality for sponsoring me. Then she blew more kisses to the audience and strutted off the stage to massive applause.
“Well, well. Big promises from the gorgeous Sexilicious Delicious. What do you guys think?” said Mr Glam.
The young crowd went crazy. Most people over 40 knew better and didn’t bother voting, unless they were like me and needed the credit points.
“Vote for Sexilicious Delicious and stand a chance to win backstage tickets to the Kanine Krew’s Afterparty live event.”
“Are you ready for the final candidate?” asked Mr Glam.
More yells from the crowd.
“Give it up for Dr Dynamico, all the way from Hatfield Heights. It’s 24 years old with 900 million followers.
What looked like a human-robot hybrid walked onto the stage. It had a human head heavily modified with optics and metal arms and legs.
It spoke in a cheerful robotic voice. “Salutations, my good people. I’m the oldest and wisest of the candidates today. You’ve probably seen my incredible strength and wisdom online and know I’ll be the best mayor.”
“What’s your election promise?” asked Mr Glam.
“I’ll reduce the minimum age limit for subsidized body enhancements to 12 years old. Kids deserve the best like everyone else, and we shouldn’t discriminate against them because of their age.
“I’d like to thank my sponsors, Paradigm Robotics, The Kanine Krew, and the City Municipality for this opportunity.”
Another predictable roar from the crowd. Nadia was cheering with the rest of them. She was going and naive.
I found it sickening.
“Dr Dynamico wants to help your kids achieve their full potential. A noble cause.
Vote for him, and you could win free optical and auditory implants,” said Mr Glam.
The other two candidates came back onto the stage.
Mr Glam said, “It’s voting time, everyone. Remember, you’ll all receive 500 social credit points for fulfilling your civic duty. It’s time to check your coms. Press one for Big Boy Billy, press two for Sexilicious Delicious, and press three for Dr Dynamico. Votes will be counted in five minutes.”
The massive screens switched between videos of the candidates and displayed their election promises.
Meanwhile, a group of five black and white robots took to the stage and performed a dance routine to a popular song I’d never heard before to entertain the crowd.
Nadia was in her element and danced along, trying to copy their moves.
The numbers for each candidate flashed on my comchip display. I laughed at the morons around me who lapped it up and actually believed these corporate stooges were going to do anything except collect a paycheck. Still, I was here for a reason and just got it over with.
I was weak and voted for Sexilicious Delicious, purely because I thought she was hot. I probably wasn’t the only one.
Jordan turned to me and said, “There should be easier ways to get veggie dogs.”
Nadia laughed at her dad and said, “I’m having fun”
“It’s okay, you don’t know any better,” replied Jordan.
The screen displayed a one-minute countdown, then Mr Glam returned to the stage with the candidates.
He said, “Are you guys ready for the results?”
The crowd cheered and screamed.
He said, “I said, ‘ Are you ready for the results?’”
More shouting and cheering.
“And your next mayor is……Dr Dynamico !”
Dr. Dynamico bowed while the other candidates left the stage. They’d probably try again next month.
Mr Glam said, “I have a special surprise for all of you. To present the mayoral chain of office, we have last month’s winner, Miss Miroi. A muscular woman strolled onto the stage wearing a fitted black gown.
Nadia stood up and cheered for her. Jordan and I grinned at each other at seeing her so happy.
Miss Miroi took the microphone and said, “Hiya everyone. I want to say a big thank you for your support. It’s been an honor to serve you. I had the time of my life. I redecorated the office and got millions of new followers. I promised I’d reach two billion in my time in office. I’ve reached my goal, and now I’ll donate them to everyone here to show my gratitude.”
The crowd cheered for her.
She said, “And now my time in office has come to an end. I’m so lucky to have an amazing crowd like you to watch my ascension today. I love you all, and she blew kisses to the roaring crowd.
A man and a woman who looked like models with chiseled features and stylish black suits wheeled a horizontal capsule-like object onto the stage. The man pressed a button, and the glass panel at the top slid open like a jet fighter cockpit while a tiny ladder unfolded from the side.
Miss Miroi smiled while she handed over the chain of office to Dr Dynamico. Her follower count displayed on the screens above shot up to 2.5 billion. They blinked red and showed virtual fireworks when she surpassed Sir Edward, the previous month’s mayor. It flashed bright pink when it hit three billion, and she bowed for the joyous crowd.
Then she spoke on the microphone one more time. “Thanks for making me a star. I’ll see you all on the other side. Before I go, I’d like to thank my sponsors, Dino Martel Shoes, The Kanine Krew, and the city municipality for making my dreams come true. I’m so happy to ascend with all you beautiful people here. “You guys rock.” Then she climbed into the capsule, and it closed on her.
I said, ‘Cover your eyes. You don’t need to see this,” to Nadia.
She said, “Relax, Granddad. I’ve seen worse stuff online. She was probably right.
The clock on the screen displayed a countdown from ten to one, then fireworks burst out from behind the stage.
Miss Miroi’s follower count dropped on the screen, and my com chip displayed an extra 1,000 social media followers. Then the screen displayed a picture of her as the mayor, with her date of birth and today’s date, and a message saying, “I will always love you.”
Nadia’s jaw hung open for a second. Her happy expression turned to a frown. She wiped away the tears building up in her eyes.
Jordan saw this and put his arm around her.
“She said, I can’t believe she’s gone, Dad. Why’d she do it?”
Jordan didn’t sugarcoat it. To go out with a bang. Dying for fame is the ultimate sacrifice. She wanted you to feel this way and hoped you’d love her more.”
Nadia’s frown turned into a grimace. She said, “I think it’s manipulative and disgusting.”
“Welcome to the real-world, kid, “ said Jordan.
The man and woman in black wheeled the capsule off stage, and Mr Glam appeared once more. He said, “A big thank you to Lisa and Tom from the City Ascension program. Remember, the service is available to everyone for free, seven days a week. People over 40 are entitled to 1,000 extra credits and $100,000 in cash, payable to their loved ones, if they sign up for the service.
Tom and Lisa waved and blew kisses to the audience.
“I’d like to call Dr Dynamico to say a few words as the new mayor before we wrap things up,” said Mr Glam.
Dr Dynamico stood in the middle of the stage and said, “Thanks to everyone who voted for me to be mayor for the next month. I promise I won’t let you down. Have a great day, and remember, you get an extra 30 minutes of outdoor time today for fulfilling your civic duty.”
I hated his robotic voice. It sounded like a robot from an old B-grade action movie.
I said, “Let’s get out of here before the rush.”
Jordan grabbed Nadia’s hand, and we made our way out while Mr Glam waffled on about more sponsors and announced today’s prize winners.