Third Eye Vision

“Yes, I got the data.” Fred moved around the back of his vehicle, the orange street light illuminating his face slightly from underneath the bill of his hat. He eyed Zak curiously.

Pacing furiously, Zak vented, “Well then? What’s the status Chief? Why no debrief? Why no reports? Hell, you haven’t even checked in - in days! You can’t just run around aimlessly pretending like a multibillion dollar project is of no consequence! Do you know how many people I’ve been blowing off until I could find you?” Zak steamed furiously, raking both his hands through his hair in frustration. Pivoting on his heel he spun right back into Fred’s face. ‘I’ve got the NSA, CIA, HLS, and Washington all up my ass, wondering what the hell is going on over here, a liaison for the Secretary of the Air force and high ranking general from the Army were here yesterday inquiring about you and all I could tell any of them is that you are out in the field working!” Zak spun off, walking a short distance away, obviously stressed.

“I have been working” hummed Fred between drags of a joint.

That seemed enough to set Zak off. Fred saw it like it was playing in slow motion. Zak’s whole body went rigid. Both his arms clenched as his fists balled, arms bowing out at his sides.

It was just a split second but enough for Zak’s brow to furrow and for Fred to smile.

Zak went full tilt and within four quick steps closed the distance between them, throwing a swift and fluid right leg kick towards Mudi’s face.

Although he saw it coming, Fred was backed against his vehicle, so all he could really do was lean his head back as Zak’s foot barely missed his face, instead smartly kicking his hand, knocking the joint to the ground. Embers scattered onto the cool asphalt.

That was enough.

Moving faster than they both had expected, Fred grabbed Zak by the collar with both hands and swiftly tipped him backwards in a sweep over his knee, suspending him a few inches above the pavement. Holding Zak’s collar with one clenched fist, his other raised pointing into Zak’s face; “Easy for you techies, behind your keyboards and anonymous screens! Do you really have any idea? Do you?” Fred’s eyes were fierce with fire and spittle sprayed as he barked. “These people want to see me rise up and destroy the world! The whole fucking world and you all sit behind your anonymity making jokes the whole time about not getting any pussy! Are you guys really so depraved? You have no fucking idea what this is fucking like – despite your fucking analysis” Fred let go, dropping Zak to the ground. He walked away from Zak still furious.

Fred turned back, looking to Zak who was still on the ground, now sitting up. “You know that every piece of technology I’ve given them is one step closer to doom? Do you know where all that tech is going? And regardless of who came knocking, I have turned down every offer of money in the name of God, Country and the Scientific spirit, and you all still make jokes? If I were to ask for all the money I’m worth they’d call me a monster but if I refuse to take money they call me a fool. I thought I had been going mad but no – no, now I see. The world has gone mad and I seem to be the only one to be able to parse some sense out of it. Yet still jokes will be made! I’m not the madman here, it’s this current paradigm. I am simply a reflection of the projections of other’s will, or desire… and let me tell you something Zak, peoples desires are pretty fucked up! All I wanted was to do some cool tech stuff, maybe join a band, go surfing… but you motherfuckers got me out here bartering with the god damn Devil, not only for MY soul – MULTIPLE TIMES – but the souls of everyone else in the world!?!? Wow. Thanks for that man, ya know? Now… now I got a head full ideas that won’t die. That refused to be oppressed. Now I got a head full of data that may end up incinerating the whole god damn planet! Oh yeah that’s right, optimism right? Like your precious pc. Gotta optimize… positive attitude is everything!”

Fred began to storm off before turning with both his middle fingers raised at Zak. He spoke as he walked backwards,

“Get bent Zak! You guys have no idea what you’ve done! And now? Now you’ve no idea what your dealing with! You will be blessed by God whether you like it or not”

With that, Mudi disappeared into the night.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Spiraling Tracks

- It all seemed so neat, it all seemed so gay
until the wolves came out to play.

With seething dreams of lands yet written
One by one their fangs had smitten,

Those who opposed, or those with doubt
Above the din of men the howls drowned out.

Laments of yore whose age betrayed
The true course of souls and those dismayed.

Blue skin so frigid, yearning for heat
With gardens that bloomed, now in retreat.

The pack now circles amongst the shade,
Far upwind from babbling babes.

And as the moon rises with ominous light
Padded tracks are left; and to the right.

Circling ever closer to the prize so near
Salivating maws activated by men’s fear.

It all seemed so gay, it all seemed so neat
Till wolves dine upon their sinning meat. -

------------------------------------------------------------

protection (n.)
mid-14c., "shelter, defense; keeping, guardianship;" late 14c. as "that which protects," from Old French proteccion "protection, shield" (12c.) and directly from Late Latin protectionem (nominative protectio) "a covering over," noun of action from past participle stem of protegere "protect, cover in front," from pro "before" (see pro-) + tegere "to cover," from PIE root *(s)teg- "to cover."

A common Old English word for "protect" was beorgan. International economic sense is from 1789. In gangster sense, "freedom from molestation in exchange for money," it is attested from 1860. Ecological sense of "attempted preservation by laws" is from 1880 (originally of wild birds in Britain). Also in medieval England, "the protection or maintenance of a lord or patron; sponsorship." To put (someone) out of protection meant to deprive him or her of the security of the protection of the kingdom's laws.