The Reapers Harvest..inspired by SCC2016

The Reapers Harvest

Intro Story:Set The Record Straight

In the year 2120, the world was no longer capable of sustaining the population. But the government had been working hard to come up with a solution to this issue long before it reached catastrophic levels. Through many years of mental conditioning and structured schooling, they made us a society that believed the future of our world and race could only be assured by making the unacceptable, acceptable.

After manipulating our hearts and minds through social media and other forms of indoctrination, our society came to understand that euthanasia was the only way. We were taught to believe it was more of a kindness than a barbaric act. And that it was better for society as a whole both economically and environmentally.

The shift in mentality had become more along the lines of cost versus benefit and we'd become a species more concerned about the strain on the natural and financial resources than the value of human life. It had been determined that the cost of supporting and maintaining a life that was no longer a contributing member to the society was not worth the end result. And, once a person had outlived their usefulness, it was determined that they should no longer be given the benefits of what society offered.

Side Story 1: I'm Offended, it's Being Amended

Humanitarian Law 112735 simply states:

Anyone not capable of contributing to the system will be removed from the system.

This was the new rule within the new world. Established in 2121, the law remained untouched for many years. But, after a time, it became evident that the numbers in population were still climbing. After years of enforcing it, there just wasn't that many old and disabled left... Not enough to combat the birth rate.

Since then, there had been many amendments to the original law. While at first it was meant for the severely disabled and aging members of society, eventually there were really no exclusions. The list of possible victims had grown to include people that had even the slightest disability. And since every human being had been chipped since birth, there was no way to survive once you'd been chosen...at least not for the average human being.

The fiscal year ended in November, and The Martyrs were notified via certified letter. On Christmas Eve at exactly 11:59 p.m. Millions of people were euthanized, maintaining the population at a manageable level. In the month of December we used to celebrate Christmas. Now we celebrate what had become known as The Reapers Harvest. Instead of a celebration of life and family, December had become a celebration of death and mourning.

The Martyrs branded themselves with black marks on their face, three thick lines that went from the left eye across their face down to the right side of their neck. This was to let others know that they were one of the chosen who's life would end on Christmas eve. It also gave them preferential treatment when they were out within society itself. Huge crowds of people would part and long lines would give way to let them pass as a show of honor and respect. Some people offered words of encouragement or gifts as the Martyrs passed by , others bowed their heads and said prayers or just had a moment of silence.

Any unpaid debts were also taken from the persons bank account on Christmas Eve at 11:59 p.m. The money was electronically transferred out and after all other bills had been paid, any money left was dispersed to the remaining heirs the next day during the celebration of the Great Feast. The government , of course, ensured they got paid theirs, taxes and burial costs were taken out as well.

On Christmas eve, the whole family gathered at The Martyr's house. The tree had been lit in honor of them and the willed items of a personal nature were wrapped and placed below it. The Martyr then sat upon a chair, calling out the name of the person who was to receive the "gift". That heir approached the Martyr and unwrapped their "gift" as well as gave their condolences and said any final words they wished to share. At 11:55 p.m. the whole house was filled with song as the coroner arrived and prepared the Martyr for his/her death and the singing ended when the coroner walked out the door with their relatives corpse.

Side Story 2: A Martyr's Tale


The next evening, Christmas, everyone from town gathered in the center to wait for the lighting of the huge bonfire. There was a feast that was given in remembrance of the recently passed, and while the fire burned through the night, the people gathered around it and sang to remember the fallen. Drinking and laughing, sharing fond memories, and saying good bye in their own way. They threw flowers and memorabilia on the flames just before they left for the evening.. and this was now what the Christmas celebration had become.

There were still books and memorabilia left from the old times. No traces of it could be found on the web though, all of that had been deleted in the hopes of deleting it from peoples minds and hearts. But the books...the ones written on paper with pen, there were still a few that had survived. And there were many that had been written by the Martyrs of the past, well hidden from the prying eyes of the government.

Continued...

In addition, there was a rebel group that had risen in numbers throughout the years. Mostly family members of some of The Martyrs. It was rumored that if you could find them, they would deactivate your chip and you would survive The Reapers Harvest. But many people had spent their last month searching to no avail. Either the group was well hidden, or they didn't exist. And when time was so valuable for you like it was for The Martyrs, it was hard to choose spending it with loved ones versus spending it searching for something that you might never find.

Because of The Reapers Harvest, most couples were having their babies genetically engineered to ensure they'd have no disabilities when they were born. The technology was there to create the perfect child each and every time. The cost had started out pretty reasonable, but once this became the popular choice, the procedures cost began to inflate, and eventually this option was no longer available to the general public. Some believed that the government had a hand in raising the price, because as more babies were being born without disabilities, the population had begun to grow again.

There was no retirement age anymore, and many people chose to take their owns lives if they found they'd become disabled or impaired. The decision to do so somehow made them feel better, knowing that they still had some control and choice. Some of the Martyrs would also take their own lives when they found out that they'd been chosen. People who had reached the age to where society felt they were no longer useful would often jump out of windows or self immolate as the months crept by. The rise in suicides and the death rates increasing as the fiscal year grew closer to it's end.

Side Story 3: Sanctuary is Born

The rebel group Sanctuary started with one young 16 year old girl named Sarah. And as she grew in years, so did the underground network of rebels. The group grew to a size where a member could be found in every city and every town throughout the world. Some were techies, some were politicians, doctors, lawyers.. the members came from all walks of life. Each having a common denominator in their lives, they'd lost someone to The Reapers Harvest. And all of them played different roles within the group.

Side Story 4: The Written Code

The techies used their skills to deactivate the chips, protect and hide communications amongst the members. They were the hub of communication for Sanctuary, and kept the group undercover and well hidden from the masses. They'd set up a data stream that couldn't be accessed by ordinary people, the information constantly moving from website to website. The only way to access it was to enter the password into any website search field. Entering the password within a websites search field would cause the program to pause long enough for you to access it. Before you closed out of the website, a new password would be given to you.

Since the stream of information never paused, there was no way to hack it. The techies program constantly used the websites of existing, valid businesses in order to hide the communications and information of the rebel group from the government and everyone else. BOB was untraceable and no matter how the government tried, they were never able to crack the program.

Side Story 5: The Ties That Bind

The lawyers and politicians buried any mistakes or investigations surrounding the group. They used their power in the government and courts to silence any inquiries made that pertained to Sanctuary. Making sure that all the right hands were "greased" and that the coroners who collected the bodies on Christmas Eve were hand picked, so they would have control over them. They collected damning information on all the members of Sanctuary to use in case someone turned against them. As well as advocated for specific bills and causes that would help chip away at Humanitarian Law 112735. Some of them were only members of the rebels because of the benefits. Knowing that when they became a Martyr, they too, would have their chip deactivated and given sanctuary. As well as anyone in their family. But all of them performed their roles perfectly, both inside and outside of their public vocations.

Side Story 6: Death Becomes You

The doctors obtained the potassium cyanide pills that mimics death for every Martyr that was being saved. Ensuring the dosage was accurate based off of the patients health and basic physical stats. (Doctors had access to everyone's medical records, there was a central database) They would then find a way to get the pill into the Martyrs hands.. which was to be taken a few minutes before midnight on Christmas eve. They also helped to make sure the "bodies" got delivered to the right morgue and with removing the deactivated chips from the Martyrs, making sure that there was no way to track them after they'd been taken from society.

Side Story 7: The Handlers

And then there were the regular people. The ones who held the retail jobs, the farmers, the bank tellers. The Handlers (safe house operators) provided safe havens to the Martyrs. They gave them a place to stay and hide while waiting to be transported. The Handlers would receive an email telling them where the next safe haven was. If their house had been chosen, they'd be given additional pertinent information. This was all done through the secret website provided by Sanctuary. They were required to check it weekly, daily through The Reapers Harvest month.

All safe havens were randomly used, so as not to draw attention. Each one would feed and cloth the Martyr, providing them with a place to sleep and live until the next leg of their journey. Sometimes the Martyr would have to travel a long distance to get from one to the next, sometimes they would have to go only a few miles at a time. The security and safety of all parties involved would be the deciding factor in each scenario.

Continued...

This is how it was for many years. People from all walks of life helping others. The Martyrs who were saved were relocated to isolated, unpopulated areas of the world. No one from their old lives knew that they had survived The Reapers Harvest. For all intents and purposes, the Martyr had died on Christmas Eve. They spent their remaining years though living in small towns that were set up for them until they died naturally.

It wasn't until half a century ago that the Reapers Harvest was abolished. And how it came to be abolished was an odd thing in itself. One night everyone was celebrating, the next night they were not. And it was because of Sanctuary that all of it occurred. Had the rebel group not been so diligent and capable, so networked and varied.. we may still be celebrating The Reapers Harvest today.

Side Story 8: The Reaper Dies

The Reapers Harvest was ended because of one little thing..information. Sanctuary made the whole populace of the world aware of some key facts. Once this information was released, the Government officials stepped down on their own...ashamed and fearful of the repercussions of their actions. A new government was formed and used their authority to abolish some of the old laws, while creating some new ones. It was not long before the Reapers Harvest and the Great Feast were nothing more than a distant memory. But the Martyrs and Humanitarian Law 112735 will never be forgotten.

Now, Christmas is celebrated like it had been in the past but with one new ceremony. Each year on Christmas Eve, there is a candle vigil in the center every town and city. This has become a way for us to remember our mistakes, as well as to honor the Martyrs of the past. To remember how we had lost our way, and to ensure we don't makes the same mistakes again in the future.

Sanctuary has become a legend among the people of the world. Many people thinking the group was a myth. Conspiracy theorists researched and tried to gather evidence to prove their existence through the years, labeling them as a secret society. Some still believe that they exist today, moving quietly in the background, waiting for the day that they will be needed again. Some have said that if you type the word Sanctuary into any website search field, it will eventually gain you access to BOB.

The truth of the matter is that as with all secret societies, you will never know unless they want you to. But I do type the word Sanctuary occasionally into a random website search field myself from time to time..because one never knows for sure...do they.

The end


Thanks for reading..
blend57

a reply to: blend57

That was really good. S/F

a reply to: blend57

This is so good, Blend!

Off to read the side stories.

Amazing! Wow!

This is really good, blend57. I think it turned into a monster because you're supposed to flesh out all the details and write it up into a novel.

PrairieShepherd

Thank you, very kind of you to say. I won't be taking this one any farther..I already have 2 other books I'm working on.. lol.
And this was made for ATS. Anyone else wants to take the story and make it into something else, have at it. Plus it has a ton of stuff that needs editing and as I said, I was in a rush to post it because of some family stuff. (had a death in the family and I'm expecting a second one shortly)

TNMockingbird

Lady, you are always so kind and positive! I would've never finished this without ya. Such an unselfish soul you are...Thanks for all your help.

Jdennis10, Night Star, tikbalang


Thanks to all of you for reading and commenting. As I said, it was the scariest thing I could think of.. I appreciate your comments.

Thanks so much everyone, glad you liked it!

blend57

a reply to: blend57

Amazing, I admire your writing. Beautifully written work.

a reply to: blend57

THIS is Fantastic Blend!! Absolutely Fantastic!!!
Flag and Stars for sure!!!
(I look forward to reading all the side stories, when I have a little more time.)
Very Well done!!!

a reply to: blend57

Push these beautiful words up the que!