When Kevin arrives in the foyer the next day, Stan is waiting for him. He escorts Kevin upstairs to a small, rather bare office. Once settled, Stan begins to walk through, as Kevin's inquiry phrases it, "what the hell is going on."

​

They sit facing each other, Kevin behind his new desk and Stan in the cushioned chair facing him. “So,” Stan begins, “As you’ve heard at the Handover Ceremony and from Mr. Ling, the Republic was created after the end of the Rebellion. These territories where we currently reside used to be a separate region of the Republic, in which it maintained its own government and way of life until the Handover this year. After a few years of running smoothly and semi-independently, small rebellions began to fight for independence from the Republic. Over time, the resistance grew, until a full-fledged war broke out last year between us and the region.” Kevin listens intently.

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“We considered the region to be a part of our country, but unfortunately that was not how everyone viewed it. We made sure, however, to create the world we had always promised our people after we won the war. A world in which both the Republic and the region's people live together in harmony, in freedom. And that’s where we are today. The resistance was wiped out, and those who supported the Republic remain. We have set up a perfect world – each subject is assigned a job so there is no unemployment, every subject has a home so there is no homelessness, and those native to the Republic are able to interact with subjects daily to enhance friendly cohabitation. The government is here to provide support to every member of our society and will continue to ensure a positive, welcoming environment for all.”

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Kevin takes a second to think over what Stan has said. “If all subjects are assigned a job,” he hesitantly asks, “then how is that freedom? Shouldn’t they be able to choose where they work?”

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Stan stares at him blankly. “Well, no. When we say freedom, we mean from the Rebellion leaders and their ideas of independence. Those who took part in the resistance preached ideas that life under the Republic’s rule would be riddled with terrible economic times, unhappiness, and discrimination against those native to the region. As you can obviously see, that is not the case. We only want what's best for all the members of the Republic, including the new ones like you. We have sought to create the perfect balance between the Republic and those who survived the war.”

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“Did all subjects fight in the Rebellion? Were we all against the joining of the region and the Republic?”

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Stan smiles and looks down at his crossed legs as if thinking about a fond memory of the past, “No, Kevin. Not everyone was a part of the resistance. Those welcomed into this new society today supported the Handover and all it promised. "

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Kevin remains confused. “If we all supported it, why can’t I remember any of this?”

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Stan tenses ever so slightly. “Well, the Rebellion took a toll on your people. We wanted to protect our citizens from the hardships of the war, so we wiped memories.” He looks at Kevin to read his reaction, patiently waiting as Kevin digests his words. He brings his hands behind his head in disbelief.

​

“So, you just erased all our lives? What about the good memories… they weren’t worth anything?” Kevin begins to get flustered with realization of the fact that he’s in a world he has no familiarity with and can’t remember anything about himself. Stan waits for him to calm down before continuing, “What we had before wasn’t a life. It was many years full of fighting, pain, and uncertainty. Now we have changed that. You’ll be able to make new memories here in the Republic.”

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Kevin takes a second to breathe. "I'm sorry, this is just a lot. I don't even know why I'm here." He gets up and tries to walk out of the office.

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"And where do you think you're going?" 

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Kevin hesitates at the door handle. He decides to open it anyway, taking a few steps out of the room. As he goes to round the corner, two men in black stand beside each other, blocking his path. He tries to take a step closer, but they don't budge. Kevin turns around to look for a different exit when Mr. Ling steps out of his office.

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"Do we have a problem here?"

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"No," Kevin pauses in his pursuit, "I'm just trying to leave. I don't know what this is, but I don't want to be a part of it." He begins to make his way in a different direction.

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"Kevin," Mr. Ling calls. He doesn't stop. "I suggest you get back to work."

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Kevin tries to ignore him by retreating down the stairs, until two more men in black greet him at the bottom with their stone faces and bulky build. They walk up the stairs, forcing Kevin to go up with them. They guide him back to the office, pushing him through the door and shutting it behind him. Four pillars of light scattered in under the door, warning Kevin that they were standing in front of it. 

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Defeated, Kevin sits down at his desk. Stan is still sitting before him.

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Stan grins. “Mr. Ling is the President of the Republic. You can't leave -- he needs your assistance.”