C.U.B.E.

≈ Ch. 43: NO JUSTICE FOR THE CUBE ≈

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Who’s Who in this chapter

In this dramatic penultimate chapter, the storm that Kareem had foreseen hits the Cube; Sean McLaughlin, along with Perry and Lance, sets up another ‘event’ at the Rainbow Pavilion to share the groundbreaking news, getting mixed reactions from the people of the Cube. Things escalate in the worst way, making Sean take a very bald decision.

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~ Plenary Meeting ~

«All the guests please gather at the Rainbow Pavilion at 10 A.M. for extremely important communications. All employees are granted time off work. Those who cannot attend are strongly urged to watch the live streaming available on the Cube’s intra-net.»

The broadcast message coming straight from the Captain’s Office made every single phone in the Cube buzz at 8 A.M. sharp. Lance, who was having breakfast, glanced at the phone screen and knew for sure what was the reason for that sudden plenary meeting. As a matter of fact, he reckoned, the deletion of the sexual data from the A.I. and the deactivation of the sexual sensors of all the bio-chips across the entire Union must’ve caused a mayhem in the outer world.

The phone started ringing and Lance looked at the screen: it was Aldritch calling.

“Aldritch! You said that it would’ve taken them a long time to take a decision about the Cubes’ fate… Isn’t it too soon? What’s happening?”

“Apparently, your Kareem has been more effective that planned” – Aldritch replied, serious – “He wanted to put pressure on the Ministry of Moral Wellness and rouse some indignation against the Minister; he was sure that it would’ve taken a long and relentless effort to nudge public opinion in the right direction, but I now think that public opinion didn’t need to be nudged: even straight people must be sick of being controlled and analyzed by the A.I.”

“And what does it imply, Aldritch? Why have us been summoned to this plenary meeting?”

“We’ll soon know. See you there in the backstage a few minutes before 10 A.M.”

The communication went off. Lance looked at the remains of his breakfast, and suddenly he didn’t feel hungry anymore.

Less than two hours later, Lance sneaked through the artists’ entrance of the Rainbow Pavilion and reached the backstage. Inside a changing room he found Aldritch, Sean McLaughlin and Perry Yukon, who were nervously pacing the small room.

“Sean! What’s going on?”

“I’m not sure, but I don’t like it” – Sean replied, frowning – “I got a message from Chief Bellwood early in the morning: some breaking news are about to be broadcast worldwide. Yes, you guessed it right, I’m going to let the entire Cube watch and hear the live news coming from outside: this rule of keeping the Cube secluded from the outer world always disturbed me, but at this point, fuck the rules. It’s almost 10 A.M., let’s move to the stage.”

The stage was set up like a talk-show, with some chairs facing the audience, monitors and microphones. Despite the huge number of people filling each and every seat of the ground floor, the middle gallery and the peanut gallery, there was a tense silence in the ample hall. The lights went down and the big led walls lit up, showing a flashing sign reading “Breaking news – Coming soon”.

«Good morning everyone» – said an anchorman suddenly appeared on the screen – «As reported by many sources, the so-called ‘orgasmic hurricane’ recently experienced throughout the entire world and the news leaked by Mr. Kareem Bashir about the data erased from the A.I.’s memory banks have caused a massive protest against the Ministry of Moral Wellness. Spontaneous demonstrations were generated in the streets, with people accusing the Ministry to have illegally supervised and assessed their sexual activity for decades and strongly asking the entire Ministry to be abolished. Mr. Bashir has joined several demonstrations in person and has given passionate speeches, galvanizing the crowd with his charisma and his daring outfits, that occasionally roused some critiques from the audience. Let’s now go live to the City Hall rooftop where Mr. Bashir is hosting a press conference…»

The big screens were suddenly filled with images of Kareem talking from a podium. He was wearing a sort of short vest that apparently covered his torso, but actually put in great display his massive hairy chest; on his hips he was wearing a short folded skirt that barely covered his manly endowment. He was speaking with great passion, but a burly and vulgar man in the audience interrupted him and yelled: “Why do you wear such indecent clothing? I can almost see your junk!”

Kareem, rather than being pissed off, smiled and calmly replied: “If you can’t stop staring at my junk it’s your problem, not mine. If you like what you see, good for you; if not, look elsewhere, easy as that! The question is: why do you think that people should adhere to your personal tastes, your moral and your limited view of life? Am I forcing you to do something against your will? Absolutely not! But you do want to force me to do something against my will! Because of people as intolerant as you, I’ve been thrown into the Cube and locked there for months! Intolerance is the cancer of this society!”

“Ha!” – the burly men shouted back, overcoming the cheers of the bystanders – “Look at you, the Cube must’ve turned you into a faggot!”

“I don’t get why my sexual inclinations should be any of your business” – Kareem sneered – “But since you’re so concerned, let me put your mind at ease: I’m more of a man than you’ll ever be!”

“I’m soooo glad to hear that!!” – came a chirping voice from the side of the stage, next to Kareem; the camera turned around and pointed at a tall busty girl wearing a see-through shirt and stretch white leggings. “Beverly…!!” – Kareem uttered, surprised to see his former fiancé there, but he couldn’t say another word, because Beverly hugged him tight and gave him a long, passionate kiss, while the audience cheered loudly. Kareem didn’t throw his arms around her, but didn’t recoil, either. The camera tilted down a little and pointed to Kareem’s crotch, where an irrepressible erection was slowly raising the short skirt, leaving very little to imagination.

Lance looked at the screen with teary eyes, and said to Sean with trembling voice: “I told you. This is Kareem’s new life…”

Sean frowned and didn’t even try to reply. On the screen, the images of the kissing couple were abruptly replaced by the embarrassed anchorman: «Ehm… Mr. Bashir definitely puts a great passion in his speeches. And he must’ve hit the target, because while he was haranguing the crowd, this morning, the Ministry of Moral Wellness has issued an official ordinance stating that, effective immediately, all the C.U.B.E.s around the world are suppressed and the former guests living there are required to leave the detention structures immediately. I repeat: all the C.U.B.E.s are suppressed and the guests must leave them immediately.»

After a meaningful pause, the anchorman went on: «Well-informed sources have revealed that in all likely the Minister’s explosive decision was mostly due to the indignation roused by Mr. Bashir against him, rather than a way to give justice to the guests of the C.U.B.E.s. As a matter of fact, no support whatsoever is going to be provided to the former guests of the C.U.B.E.s; and even the Police Corps, in person of its Chief, General Aristide Bellwood, raised doubts against the Minister’s improvident decision.»

A roar spread across the Rainbow Pavilion, and Sean signaled to the operator to cut the video. The lights turned on, revealing that the entire audience was talking and shouting at the same time, but not always in an excited and happy way. Perry Yukon rose from his chair on stage with a deep frown and faced the audience, rising a hand to command silence.

“Gentlemen…! Gentlemen!” – he said aloud, talking into a microphone – “The news we just heard is… unsettling, to say the least. We all will soon be forced to leave the Cube, and I’d like to know your stance on that. Please hands up who’s happy about leaving the Cube and can’t wait to go back to their former life in the outer world.”

About one third of the audience, mostly young guys, raised their hands.

“Thank you. Now, hands up…” – Perry said, raising his own hand – “…who is afraid that no life is there for us in the outer world”. A sudden silence fell in the audience, and many people raised their hands, including some who, on second thought, had just changed their mind.

Perry nodded gravely: “That’s what I feared. I can see many people as old as me, or even older, with their hands up: we have always lived here, we didn’t have the time to build a life of our own outside, or we have been brought away from our lives too many years ago to start anew now. But I can also see many younger guys raising their hand: guys rejected from their families, or shunned by their friends, people whose life, outside, was harsh and cruel, and here at the Cube found a new life and a new family. And possibly love.”

“Can’t they just leave us alone??” – a man shouted from the gallery, and another one echoed him: “We want to stay here!”

Sean stood up gravely and took the mic: “The Cubes are structures funded by the Union, they call us a Collective, but the truth is that the Cubes can’t survive without external funding. A funding that is soon going to be cut. Those of you who want to go away are free to go as soon as you’re ready; as for the others, I can only try and negotiate a grace period, but I’m afraid that in the end we all have to leave the Cube.”

“But… our life is here!!” – a broken voice came from the audience, and Sean had to put a great effort to restrain his emotions and keep a firm voice: “I know. Believe me, I’m fully aware of the implications. I’m your Captain and I… I’ll do my best to help the people of the Cube. I swear to you all, I’ll do my best.”

 

~ The fire of Justice ~

For the rest of the day, until late evening, a long line of guys queued on Alpha Avenue and the surrounding streets, slowly moving toward the Entrance Hall, where the Concierge, Lionel, not without difficulties, checked the guests out one by one, following a procedure that had not been used in decades, if ever. Some people were carrying boxes or old travel bags, but most of them were just using their bedsheets to hold their few belongings. The Entrance Hall was bursting with people, some waiting to go away, others come to say goodbye to them.

Sean was standing next to the door, that was open wide, and personally bid farewell to each and every guest going out, wishing them good luck. But there was no joy in his eyes, because he knew that for every man happily moving out, there were three who looked at the future with fear; and they relied on him, the Captain, to find a way to avoid the unavoidable.

Lance, too, was in the Entrance Hall, and wasn’t surprised to see Mateo, formerly employed at the Perry Yukon Construction Firm and now acclaimed pole dancer at the Stud Stable. Mateo had shining eyes, thinking that soon he would’ve been free again; no surprise there, as he was young, he had all his life ahead of him, and though the Cube had been a safe shelter for him, he was impatient to bite life and live it to the fullest.

Behind Mateo, a few steps back in the line, there was Bryniar, the ‘imperfect’ engineer living on the 4th Floor, who was wearing his prosthetic leg and could easily pass for one of the ‘beautiful people’, as they used to call the healthy men living downstairs; and behind Bryniar Lance spotted many acquaintances and friends, all eager to be checked out and step outside.

Lance exchanged tight hugs with all his friends, feeling happy for them, but sad to see them go away. The afternoon turned to dusk, then the darkness of the night fell on the Cube, and at last the long line ended, and only Sean, Lance and an exhausted Lionel were still standing in the wide Entrance Hall. The main door was closed, but not secured, because it would’ve been pointless, now.

“Now comes the hard part” – Sean said, moving with Lance to the Police station; when in his office, Sean took his phone, nervously dialed a number and put the call on speaker.

“Chief Bellwood” – Sean saluted when the man answered the phone – “I’m sorry for the late hour, but this is a top-priority matter. Please tell me that what we heard at the news is not what it sounds like. These people have been punished enough, it’s cruel to throw them out on the street, against their will, without any support!”

There was a grave, worrying silence, and then Chief Bellwood replied: “I have my orders. And you have yours. I understand your point, but we have no choice: we are links of the command chain, and on top of the chain there’s the Minister himself.”

“Sir… I’m begging you, there must be something you can do… People, here, rely on me, and I rely on you. At least, negotiate a grace period to let people here plan their new life! The Union is not going to provide any support for these people, we can’t let them live like beggars!”

Bellwood’s voice was unsteady, as if he was striving to keep an authoritative tone: “I… I already tried, son. Believe me, I tried. I pleaded, threatened, shouted and even humiliated myself, to no avail. The Minister is furious and doesn’t listen to reason, because people don’t support him anymore, and he wants to… punish them by putting them in the worst situation. Can you imagine the social pressure of millions of gay men, including disabled ones, suddenly flooding the streets, without a home to go to, without money, without a job? It will be devastating. But there is no alternative, as starting with tomorrow morning, the funds and the supplies coming from the Ministry will be cut, and the Cubes can’t survive without support. I’ve been informed that less than a third of your guests have left the Cube, and I expect that the remaining people will be cast out soon. You’re the Acting Captain, Sean, and your duty is to obey my orders and evacuate the Cube.”

Sean lowered his gaze, took a deep breath and said: “I’m not going to do it, Sir.”

Bellwood’s reply was not the one Sean expected: “I envy you, son. You’re young, you still have the fire of Justice burning inside you. Off the records, I don’t blame you if you’re willing to do the right thing and fight against the system, I actually admire you. But please don’t judge me too harshly if I’m not as strong as you are. I’m too old for this shit. My hands are tied, so I’m warning you: if by tomorrow morning your Cube has not been evacuated, I’ll have to send my squads to do if by force. Forgive me, son, but I have to do it.”

“I know” – Sean quietly said – “Good night Sir. Godspeed to both of us.”

Sean stood up, followed by Lance, and went out to the Police station main hall, that was guarded by the Romano brothers and young Lin-Wo; the hall was crowded with people, led by Perry Yukon. Both the cops and the civilians shot at Sean an inquiring glance, and Sean gravely shook his head: “If by tomorrow morning the Cube hasn’t been evacuated, the Corps will do it themselves. I’m sorry, guys. You relied on me, but I failed…”

“You swore to do your best” – Perry comforted him – “and I’m sure you did it. No one expected you to do a miracle. But, Captain…” – he added, in a more formal tone – “…I’m here on behalf of the entire Cube, to inform you that we’re not going to leave on our free will. I suggest you and the other officers to go back home before… the situation falls.”

Sean nodded gravely and turned around to look at the cops under his command, the Romano brothers and Lin-Wo, and ordered: “Dismissed, the three of you. You’re free to go. I will stay here and hold the fort. Go away now, and your service record will stay spotless.”

“Fuck the service record” – Gary Romano bellowed, standing tall with his arms folded. “Ditto” – Rod echoed, and Lin-Wo added: “I’m not going, either, Captain.”

Sean was moved by his men’s loyalty and acknowledged it with a restrained smile: “Then we all should take a few hours’ sleep. Including you and your friends, Perry. A tough morning awaits us. I’ll be in the Entrance Hall at 8 AM. Good night, gentlemen.”

 

~ A brave Captain ~

Morning came sooner than Sean wished. He took a long shower, shaved his face clean and put on his best uniform. He looked at himself in the mirror and forced himself to wipe the worried frown from his face and put on a confident and authoritative expression. He owed it to the people of the Cube.

He went to the Entrance Hall and found many guys already there: Perry, Lance, Alastair, Boubaker, Lionel and other fifty men or so; more people were crowding Alpha Avenue and the connected streets. When Sean entered the hall, everybody shut his mouth in a respectful silence.

Before he could even say hello, a crackly voice speaking through a loudspeaker came from outside: “Acting Captain Sean McLaughlin! By order of the Minister of Moral Wellness and the Chief of the Police Corps, you and your guests are required to immediately leave the Cube!”

Sean looked up at the security monitors, and saw a large number of cops in riot gear waiting outside. One of them, the squad leader, was standing at the bottom of the ramp leading to the Cube, with a menacing expression on his face and a loudspeaker in his hand: “You have ten minutes to come out on your free will, or we’ll have to break in!”

“The fuck I’m coming out…!” – Sean growled, and Perry echoed him: “Well said, Captain!”

The minutes ticked, no one moved and all the eyes were rooted to the security monitor, showing the many menacing cops waiting outside. At some point, their leader looked at his watch and nodded to his men; six cops came out of the group bringing a heavy battering ram, with obvious intentions. Despite being a detention facility, the Cube had a glass sliding door that had no hope to survive the onslaught.

The cops slowly climbed the ramp, and the men inside the Entrance Hall held their breath, staring at Sean and hoping he could do something. Sean felt almost crushed by the trust those guys were putting in him, and cringed inwardly, knowing that he was failing them. The cops were halfway to the door, and Sean was well aware that he was about to throw away his career, and possibly his freedom, but he was determined to do anything to help the people of the Cube. But… what? Going out and pleading the cops to wait? Holding his taser and attacking them? And even if, by a miracle, he could stop them, how could the Cube survive without funds and resources?

The cops holding the battering ram were at a few feet from the door. Something had to be done, and quickly…

“INTRUDER ALERT!!” – Sean suddenly yelled, pointing his finger at Lionel – “Secure the doors! NOW!!”

Lionel immediately slammed his hand on the big red button on his desk, and instantly thick steel bars came out of the walls to block the door from inside, and a heavy steel panel noisily came down to protect the glass door from the outside. The Cube was sealed. The cops outside, the people of the Cube inside.

A loud metallic thud echoed in the hall, when the cops hit the outer steel panel with the battering ram; and then did it again, and again, but it would’ve taken a bomb to break the thick steel plate.

“Don’t be stupid, Acting Captain McLaughlin!” – the squad leader bellowed through the loudspeaker – “Come out of the Cube immediately! You and all the guests!”

Sean walked to Lionel’s desk, pressed the button of the intercom connected to the outside and said in a calm, authoritarian voice: “Make us.”

The squad leader was fuming, but he knew he’d been defeated, for the time being. With an angry nod, he ordered his men to move away, but they didn’t leave, they stood at the base of the ramp, with the obvious intention of not moving away, ready to act at the first faux-pas from McLaughlin.

 

~ Under siege ~

An ovation exploded in the Entrance Hall, and for a few moments Sean let the guys enjoy the fleeting victory, but soon raised his hand: “The fight is not over, this is just the beginning. We’re under siege, no one can go out or come in; and this means that we can’t get any fresh supplies, external electric power, water, anything coming from outside. We won’t last long.”

A man with only one arm, clearly an ‘imperfect’ technician from the 4th Floor, raised his hand: “Sir, I’m in charge of the power system, and I’m sure our solar panels and accumulators can provide enough energy to power the Cube for at least two months, if we cut the daylight on all floors.”

“And the A.I. can synthetize the food we need, for a couple months” – the head of the alimentary department stated – “It won’t be as tasteful as fresh food, but it’s healthy and nutritious.”

The technician in charge of the water and sewage system raised his hand: “Our recycling system can provide fresh water for at least three months… that is, if they don’t block the sewage system, as we still need to get rid of the wastes.”

Alastair and Boubaker stepped forward: “Captain, with your consent we’ll cut all the inbound communications, to prevent intrusions in our systems; and we’ll block the outbound security connections, so they won’t be able to monitor our stats. We’ll be able to see them, but they won’t see us, Sir.”

Perry faced Sean: “Thank you for showing us the way, Captain. It’ll be tough, but with your lead we can do it. Right, guys?”

Another ovation exploded in the hall, and Sean forced himself to give them a supporting smile; but inside, he knew that in two months, after struggling to survive with the bare minimum of energy, food and water, they were going to admit their defeat.

“Captain…” – said a man in a low voice, and Sean looked at him: he was very old and steadied himself using a walking stick, but his gaze was determined and confident. The man took Sean aside and said: “Captain, we elders living on the 3rd Floor are a burden for the Cube, we all know it well. We live a void life in our silent apartments, just waiting for our moment to come. And when the A.I. thinks we can’t live much longer, it provides us a strong stimulant that ignites a fire in our loins, and we make love day and night, enjoying long-forgotten powerful orgasms… until we have the last one. It’s such a beautiful way to pass away, Captain.”

“You…” – Sean stuttered – “You’re not implying what I think you’re implying, are you?”

The old man smiled: “Don’t be shocked, Captain. Sooner or later we have to go, so why not sooner? Instruct the A.I. to give us the strongest stimulant it can provide, and let us enjoy our last Spring. Without us hogging precious resources, the Cube can resist longer than just two months.”

It was more than Sean could bear, after the turmoil of emotions he had to restrain in the last twenty-four hours. “I… I’ll think about it” – he replied with a lump in his throat, and then ran into the secret passage connecting the Entrance Hall to the Police station, went to his office, locked the door and burst in tears. Those men were ready to die in order to give the Cube a chance! Of course, Sean didn’t think even for a single moment to do what the old man suggested, but still, the courage and the selflessness of the people of the 3rd Floor was painfully moving.

«I can’t be any less…!» – Sean said to himself when he could finally get a grip on himself. He took his tablet and issued orders to all the service departments, following the guidelines suggested by the head technicians and then sat back at his desk, like a sea Captain in his ship ready to face the storm. The siege of the Cube had begun.

-~~~≈≈≈ooOoo≈≈≈~~~-

In the final triple chapter: The Cube is under siege and struggles for the lack of resources and the vanishing hopes for a new life. Aldritch, once more, surprises everyone coming up with the definitive solution; in order to assess the feasibility of his project, he finds a Certified Accountant… or better, the Accountant finds him. Kareem takes one last step forward into man-sex, but then Beverly offers him something he craves for.

What future awaits the Cube and its guests? What life awaits Kareem and Lance?