Kaleidoscope Revolution, Part 6

THE KALEIDOSCOPE REVOLUTION
by uciboy

NOTE TO READER:  This is a continuation of "Kaleidoscope Eyes" published June
30, 2002 and "Kaleidoscope Eyes:  The Gathering Storm" published November 9,
2002.  This segment also contains characters from "The Hong Girls" published
July 8, 2002.  My thanks to Loring Holden for some ideas about plot
development.


PART 6

Los Angeles
The Future

Vicky, clearly moved by the tale of the Revolution, sat quietly as Tammy
finished talking.  Even Ms. Lauren had paused from her grading to listen to
Tammy tell about Kim's death, and she wiped away a tear streaming down her
cheek.

"And that's how the Kaleidoscope Revolution began," Tammy said as she
thoughtfully crushed a cigarette in the full ashtray on Vicky's desk.


Vicky, now fully interested in learning about her country's recent history,
had more questions.  "How does the Provisional Government get its start?
When do we export the Revolution abroad?  I have so many more questions."

Tammy smiled broadly, knowing that she had made a convert.  "All of those
questions will be answered when you take the New Society Civics class next
year.  But you need to pass this class first."  

Vicky looked down at the inhaler on her desk.  She knew that with two quick
pumps she would be able to become a full member of the New Society.

"Do you understand now how important it is for you to become a smoker?" Tammy
asked as she lit a fresh cigarette.  "For years the anti-smoking forces
persecuted us, but Sister Kim gave her life in order that all of us could
become one with the power of the smoke.  She made a tremendous sacrifice."

Vicky looked over at the portrait of Kim on the wall.  "I wish I had known
Sister Kim."

"But you can know her, Vicky."  Tammy took a hard puff and slowly exhaled a
white cloud that hung in the air between her and Vicky.  "Her spirit is in
the smoke," she said as she moved her hand through the cloud.  "I feel her
presence with every puff I take."

"Will my eyes sparkle like hers?"

"Eventually," Tammy replied.  "But as Ms. Lauren explained before, it's
different with every child.  Most take on the transformation within a few
hours, but for reasons we don't understand, some go through it immediately.
That's why we say they have been embraced by the Sister's Spirit."

Vicky picked up the inhaler and examined it closely.  Then she looked up into
Tammy's diamond eyes and said, "I'm ready now."

Tammy smiled.  "Bring the inhaler up to your mouth and pump it twice,
inhaling the contents deep into your lungs."

Vicky did as she was instructed and could suddenly feel the tingling in her
chest and the lightness in her head.  She was excited now.  "I'm going to be
a smoker," she whispered in anticipation.

"Yes, you are," Tammy replied as she pulled a cigarette out of her own pack
and gave it to Vicky who put it between her lips and accepted the flame from
Tammy's lighter.  

Ms. Lauren looked on proudly.  "Breathe the smoke deep into your lungs,
Vicky."


Vicky did so - and immediately felt something change within her body as her
eyes began to tingle.  She took another puff, this one deeper than before,
opened her mouth wide, and snapped the smoke back almost perfectly.

"Feel its power," Tammy said as she placed the palm of her hand on the side
of the child's face.

"I do," Vicky replied eagerly as she closed her eyes and held the smoke in
her lungs.  There was hardly anything left to exhale as she blew a thin
stream towards Tammy.  When she opened her eyes, the 13 year old knew that
she had gone through the Transformation.

"I knew you were special," Tammy replied softly.  "You've been embraced by
the Sister's Spirit."

Vicky smiled as she brought the cigarette up to her mouth for yet another
deep, full puff.

"Vicky," Tammy asked confident that she would get an answer now, "who told
you that smoking was bad for you?"

"My Aunt," Vicky said slowly in an exhale and then reached into her pocket to
pull out two contact lenses that had kaleidoscope markings on them.  "She
told me to wear these to fool everyone.  She lives in our basement and
pretends to smoke.  Not even my parents know that she's an 'Anti.'"

Tammy had seen these contacts before.  Exposing everyone to the mutation was
an immense undertaking, and the Provisional Government knew that even so many
years after the Revolution there were still some who had slipped through the
cracks.  Tammy was personally obsessed with crushing this Underground
Resistance Movement.  "I want a Security Smoke Team at her house
immediately," Tammy barked at Ms. Lauren who quickly picked up a phone at her
desk.

Vicky took another deep puff, proud that she was informing on her dearly
loved Aunt who she now could clearly see was dishonoring the spirit of Sister
Kim by not becoming a smoker.

"You've done a good thing, Vicky," Tammy said with tremendous satisfaction to
the young convert.  "You've helped us eliminate one less traitor to the
Revolution."  Tammy packed her things into her briefcase and got up to leave.
She looked down at Vicky who had a wicked smile on her face as she contently
smoked her cigarette.  Tammy knew that she could expect great things from
this girl in the future.  She knelt down to Vicky's face and looked into her
kaleidoscope eyes.  "Welcome to the New Society, Vicky." 

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