See to it when the established order has been removed, something similar does not take its place.
Power is a vacuum. And like any vacuum, it needs to be filled. In the case of government—especially one that has been overthrown in a skirmish—many figures will rush in to fill the empty space. You must see to it that these forces are not just as, or even worse than the system you are currently working to overthrow. There is no point removing a tiger if you’re just going to put a lion in its place.
It can be argued that this is the most important rule in the book. If another oppressive system takes the place of the one you just removed, you will need to begin the revolution all over again. So, before you even begin, plan to the end.
* * *
He put the final page in the booklet and set it aside. Outside his apartment window, the sirens went on and on, racing off to every corner of the city.
The door to the apartment opened. Bryan felt startled until he saw that it was Marie.
“Hey,” she said kindly.
“Hey,” said Bryan, as an automatic response.
“How you doing?”
“I'm good. Well, as good as I can be, anyway. Found anything?"
"I'm afraid not. Still no word on Dr. Sheridan, or any of the other Jacobins." Bryan folded his hands and set them in front of him.
"It's been three months," he said, "We would have heard from them by now."
Marie sat down on the bed. They'd shared the small apartment ever since the fall of the Council and since Anton Ness abdicated as Council Premier. The abdication was not necessary; the General Assembly executed him on live television. Dorian took over the government, but was just as quickly removed from power and replaced by another Assembly leader. It was a pattern that Bryan did not see coming to an end anytime soon.
Still, Bryan needed to lay low for a while, and wait to hear any word from survivors. None came, but Marie's father was there for him when he needed it. Also, he considered living with Marie to be a tremendous blessing.
"Any trouble getting in?" he asked her.
"No. There have been riots over in the Southern District. The General Assembly sent troops from the Military Police to take them out. I'm the last thing on their radar right now.
Bryan put his hands up and wiped his face, as though it would ease his frustration.
“Some new world, huh?” she said, trying to pass it all off as a joke.
Bryan forced a smile, and then looked up at Marie.
“Well, they said things would change. They never said they would get better.” She made her way to the window and looked out.
“Apparently, there was an explosion in the Southern District. Do you think it was one of the Jacobins? One of ours?"
"I doubt it. But who knows?"
On the side of the table, she caught a glimpse of the booklet Bryan had been working on. She picked it up and read the cover.
“IX?” she asked, softly, "I-X as in the number nine?" "That's right," said Bryan, a hint of pride in his voice.
She turned to him.
“What is this for?”
He took the booklet and flipped through it.
“Since the revolution needs to be fought all over again, I figured it would be a good idea if someone were to learn from our mistakes.” Marie smirked.
“Is it done?”
Bryan loaded another page into the typewriter.
“Almost,” he said.
After just a few keystrokes, he took out the page and showed it to her.
“Now it’s done,” he said. She looked at the page.
Dedicated to Matthew J. Creed
Jacobin, Freedom Fighter, Brother
Marie set the page down and wiped tears from her eyes. Bryan got up, and the two of them embraced, showing love and devotion without words. The two of them held hands as they made their way out of the apartment into the streets below.
THE END