A Bad Dream

IMAGINATION'S PLACE
FICTION
A BAD DREAM
By; Gerald A. Polley

    Sometime in the not too distant future a commentator is standing before a screen saying "The chief of police of San Francisco will be beginning his news conference in a few minutes. This will be the first official statements on what happened in San Francisco last night. The world is still in shock that something like this could've happened in The United States! Here he is! The chief is coming to the podium!"
    "Ladies and gentlemen," the chief began, "we are here to give you information on what happened last night. We will give that information and then answer questions. The Republican National Committee was having its convention at the convention center to nominate their presidential candidate. At 9:45 approximately 3,000 pro gay demonstrators stormed the building. Their first act was to brutally gun down twenty four police officers guarding the front of the building. They were met in the lobby by defenders and a gun battle ensued. The defenders were forced to retreat and the gun battle continued on the floor of the convention center and in the stairways for several minutes until the attackers were driven out. When the auditorium was clear The Republicans continued their convention and nominated their candidate.
    That's what happened! Everyone is appalled. There are people screaming that those defending the convention center be arrested. This is totally unjustified. They were defending themselves and despite the carnage were perfectly justified. We are seeking two individuals that escaped, who were ringleaders of this assault. Their pictures have been circulated. Anyone that sees them should call 911 immediately. They are armed and considered extremely dangerous! Now, I'll take a few questions."
    A woman raised her hand. "Sir! How were the attackers armed?"
    The chief sighed. "They had everything!" he remarked. "We recovered...where's that list? Here it is! We recovered twenty-one ak 47s, 15 M16s, forty-seven assorted high powered rifles, forty-two break action shotguns, thirty-one pump action shotguns, 230 hand guns of assorted caliber, sixteen hand grenades, six rocket propelled grenades, several pounds of high explosive. These people intended to do serious harm!"
    "What did the defenders have?" another reporter asked.
    "Assorted shotguns, rifles and pistols," the chief answered, "exactly what calibers and such we don't know. It was not our responsibility to collect them. And most of them were police ordinance. It is believed that The Republicans' nominee put down maybe a dozen of the attackers personally, with a high powered rifle. The greatest kill zone was in the lobby and on the stairs that the attackers were using to enter the auditorium. But some who reached the floor were also killed there."
    A reporter spoke up. "We've been told some of those trying to defend their rights only had clubs! Was it appropriate for them to be gunned down?"
   The police chief looked up rather annoyed. "Yes," he answered, "we have video of such individuals screaming 'Kill the bitches! Kill the babies! Kill their whores!' I think any action taken against these individuals was appropriate. I'd appreciate no further such comments. Now, if you'll excuse me this is not concluded yet. We expect far more arrests."
    A uniformed officer ran up and handed the chief a note. He took it, read it then laid it down. "The remaining fugitives have been killed," he remarked, "they were found hiding at the mayor's residence and resisted arrest. Two officers were also killed in the exchange. The mayor was struck in the crossfire and is also dead. If you'll excuse me..."
    Reporters continued to call out questions but the chief retreated. "There you have it!" the commentator before the screen sighed.   "The Democrats are calling for The Republicans to withdraw their candidate immediately, and to allow criminal investigations. They deny much of the report being made by the police. They are saying the police fired on the demonstrators, though video evidence strongly disproves this. This is going to be one of the most hateful presidential campaigns in history! What has happened in San Francisco is dividing the country. But early polls show that the people are turning towards The Republicans and the election may be a landslide victory for the Republican candidate.   The Republicans are asking for no further violence, that those that disagree with them disagree with them respectfully. This is horror. This is horror that no one ever believed would be seen in The United States! God help us all!"
    In a hotel room in San Francisco a young girl moved away from the television. "They've given you the election, father. There's no hope they can defeat you now!"
    The man in the recliner shook his head. "We didn't want it this way!" he remarked. "2,017 dead! We didn't want it this way!"
    The girl took her father's hand. "Well," he finally managed.   "We've got to get rolling! It's still going to be a fight. They're not going to go down without one. It's going to be dirty all the way!"
    "They'll regret it!" the young woman snapped. "If they want hell, we'll give it to 'em!"
    Her father smiled. "That we will!" he answered, "that we will! Let's go to church and then get to work! We should at least pray for the dead."
    "The power of God is great," a young man remarked, "all we suffered were minor wounds. We didn't lose one person."
    His father smiled. "Not so," he answered. "You're forgetting the police officers. They were not really our people but they were serving us. So they are our casualties as well. Their families will need to be cared for." The young man bowed his head. "Of course, father!" he answered. "Forgive my carelessness!" His father nodded.   He slipped a pistol into the shoulder holster under his right arm, put on a bullet resistant jacket, nodded to the others, and they went out to make hell.

THE END

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