Imperial March

They got a spot on 14th and Empire, right by the hotel, to watch the FanSFCon parade.  They thought they had gotten there pretty early, but within fifteen minutes the sidewalk was crowded on either side of them.  They had to stand completely still or they could lose their coveted curbside spot.

Crawford was dressed as Hawk the Slayer.  Neither of his friends knew who that was.  Bill was Thorin Oakenshield.  Jeanette was dressed in a short skirt and a big yellow shirt that hung loose around her shoulders, exposing one of her black bra straps at all times.  Jeanette was chewing gum.  Jeanette was over it.

She had come to the parade because she used to be Crawford’s girlfriend.  Crawford didn’t really know she wasn’t his girlfriend anymore.  He wasn’t that observant.

She was going to tell him after the parade.

No one spoke much at first.  Crawford and Bill were too excited.  Jeanette didn’t like talking to them when they were excited.

After another ten minutes, a line of spiky warriors emerged from around the corner.  They formed a solid line across the front of the parade.  Several large vehicles could be seen behind them, slowly rolling forward.

“I hear somebody built a Delorean from scratch,” Bill commented.

“They did that last year,” Crawford said.

“Na ah, it was a Road Warrior Car.”

“I saw the Road Warrior Car and the Delorean,” Crawford countered archly.

“They’ve probably had a Delorean for the last ten years,” Jeanette spoke up.  She sounded bored and irritated.  She was.

“It’s probably the same car, went back in time,” qupped Bill.

Jeanette rolled her eyes.  Couldn’t see that one coming.

“Anyway, they probably won’t have a Delorean this year,” Crawford said.  “It’s going to be mostly Star Wars this year, because of the movie.”

“It’s Star Wars every year,” Jeanette remarked.  “Every year it’s just more and more Storm Troopers.”

A troop of Cub Scout Zombies walked by, screaming and gagging at the crowd.  Grown up zombies came after them, taking care of them.

“Those are cute,” Jeanette said.  Crawford and Bill didn’t answer.  They were looking somewhere else.

Jeanette sighed.

“There are your Storm Troopers,” said Crawford.

Sure enough, a neat row of the white plastic uniforms had become visible.  As they came closer, another row was evident behind them.  Jeanette snorted.

“See?” she said.  “It’s just more Storm Troopers.  These parades are not as fun as they used to be.”

“Maybe for you,” Crawford snapped, irritated.

Jeanette shot a look at him.  Did he know about her plans?  Maybe Bill had clued him in.  Bill was more observant than Crawford, not nearly as self-interested.  He might have picked up on her attitude lately and clued him in.

Was Crawford planning to break up with her first?

Jeanette didn’t know how she felt about that.  Yes, it would make things easier.  But that didn’t make any sense, because she was actually kind of good looking and he wasn’t.

“Wow,” said Bill.  “Those are a lot of Storm Troopers!”

“I think they’re recreating an Imperial Parade,” Crawford told him, his eyes never leaving the street.  Jeanette stared at him brazenly now.

Was he ignoring her?  Did he somehow think he was better than her?  Like he was ever going to get a girlfriend again?

She wondered if she should just break up with him now.  Right here.  In front of Bill and all these people.  That would hurt him more.  She didn’t really want to hurt him.  But he had been such an asshole lately.

Now the twentieth row of Storm Troopers had gone by.  The street was completely full of them.  Jeanette scowled at the endless parade of white-armored nerds, willing to bake in a plastic container just so they could pretend they were dangerous Imperial Troops.

That was the way people like Crawford were, she had decided.  Weak.  But dangerous once you let them in.  They were so easily threatened they had to be in a position of power.

She didn’t really care if he knew she was breaking up with him.  But she didn’t want to give him the idea that he was going to be able hurt her.  He never had that kind of power over her.

There seemed to be no end to the Storm Troopers.  They continued to march past like a river of molded egg-shells shining in the sun, their impassive masks bobbing.  The people on either side of them were talking to each other now, taken aback by the scope of the presentation.

It was time, she decided.  She wasn’t going to give him the chance.  “Hey, Crawford!” she said.

But Crawford didn’t hear her, because at the exact same moment she spoke, a voice blared out over a hidden loudspeaker.

“Citizens.  This area is now under the control of the New Imperial Order.  Please proceed in an orderly fashion to your transportation options and return to your homes.”

Everyone around them laughed at that.  Bill snorted.  “That’s pretty funny,” he said.

When the message was repeated, Bill didn’t look so amused.  The Storm Troopers kept coming.   Jeanette noticed the weapons in their arms looked very realistic, more like real guns than laser blasters.

“That’s kind of weird,” she said, without being specific.  Crawford nodded, staring open mouthed across the white heads, knowing what she meant.

“Citizens,” came the voice again.  “Return to your homes immediately.  You will be given instructions over the web connection NewImperialOrder.com and on all broadcast channels.”

“Is this a joke?” Crawford asked.

As if in answer, the voice came a third time.  “Those who remain in place will be escorted to detention centers.  You have ten minutes to clear the area.  This is your last opportunity to leave.”

“Crawford,” Jeanette called out.

“Yeah?” Crawford replied, looking at her for the first time.  He seemed scared.  Gone was the look of snide superiority.

“Can I hang out at your house?” she asked him.

THE END

(c) 2016 Adam Cole   http://www.authorsden.com/adamcole