The words seemed to be being pulsated out by his racing heart, as his mind raced through the options available to him, as the mob steadily approached; the intimidating mass of people swelling with every step. And it had started out so peacefully….

The two sides faced each other through a thin and insubstantial, hastily erected police fence. The main square was a natural suntrap anyway, and with the amount of people crammed into it, the temperature had increased rapidly in proportion to the escalating anger. They had already deployed stun-grenades a few times, hence the constant need for respirators.

He could sympathise with them. Hell, he might even be on the other side of the fence if he wasn’t in the police. It couldn’t be nice having the threat of losing your job and have your representatives roll over and do nothing. Or in the words of the official statement, “…allow for the natural progression of trade and industry upon other worlds, into which we have no legal contribution, and as such wish our neighbours success in their ventures.”; in spite of previous treaties which protected each planet’s individual industries from competition by another world in the system. Apparently there was a loophole in this treaty, which allowed them to still start up their new ‘venture’.

The planet was built around its industries of oxygen and ready-food production for starbases and spacecraft. To find out that an already mineral rich neighbour’s was planning to expand from it’s mining to these same industries had raised many people’s anger. With newer machinery, and technology and backed my massive investment, such plants would undoubtedly be able to be much more cost effective leading to their end products being cheaper. With their own politicians and leaders remaining surprisingly reticent upon what ultimately, was the possible demise of the planet’s industries; many people began to suspect some sort of deal had been made.

It seemed like most of the planet has been travelling to the capital over the past few days, as the protests had grown in strength- all the while threatening to explode into riots, creating a thick air of uneasy tension between the protestors and the police force.

Due to the mounting numbers, the city’s police had called in reinforcements from the other cities on the planet, most of them from the same cities as many of the protestors.

He had watched as the massive transporters temporarily hired by the police had dropped off their human cargo. Walking out stiffly, whilst rubbing their faces where the oxygen masks has been, the multi-coloured badges on their shoulders highlighting their differing origins, in contrast to the sombre black of the capital’s police force insignia.

Although he may have had sympathies initially towards their cause, being in the full glare of the sun meant that his empathy was evaporating. The riot shield and protective clothing were growing heavier now- they had been standing there for hours in the sun; the temperature gradually rising as noon approached, whilst his shoulders rubbing against those of his tightly packed fellow officer’s, the sweat running down his face underneath his respirator.

Squinting through the swirling haze of gas and glare he saw the protesters begin to approach again. However this time something was different… their numbers seemed to have increased dramatically yet there had been no word on the radio of more joining…

Whilst the smog still obscured them from full view these marchers seemed to be wearing masks, and were carrying something in their hands…. He was beginning to get a bad feeling about this…

The adrenalin began coursing through his body setting his heart racing as the blood thudded through his pulse.

Now they were nearer he could see they were all wearing dark clothes save from a few splashes of colour- altogether a more uniform appearance…

Fight or Flight…

He could hear the protestors yelling now, as their pace quickened. Around him, panic was setting in, whilst his radio was full of screamed orders…

Fight or Flight…

The protesters were in a full run now, screaming as they waved their weapons. He could feel the pressure on his shoulders being released as around him his colleagues turned and ran….

Fight or Flight…

They were almost upon him and the few remaining officers now….

Fight or Flight?

© Bert Rebus

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