Snake's eye was fixed on the TV still watching his world crash down. It was bad all these years but now those things he had been fighting for were washed to a clean slate. It was like some great hand had washed what America stood for clean from the history books.
"In other news, newly elected President Robertson has amended the constitution, now giving the President of the United States a life term in office. Robertson claims it is a necessary amendment to help wash clean the sin and crime that has gripped the US for the past twelve years."
"Shit." Plissken mumbled to himself forcing down the shot as the only way he could imagine dealing with the news.
"As his first act as president, Robertson has enacted Directive 17. Under this new law moral crimes will receive the same punishment as other criminal acts such as looting and murder."
At first it seemed sensible; gunfighting, prostitution, owning illegal firearms. Though Snake broke those laws on a daily basis they didn't seem out of the ordinary. That would change as the list continued. Snake's eye widened as he watched the new crimes scroll across the bottom of the police channel: Drinking, smoking, consumption of red meat.
Snake's brow rose curiously as the rest of the world went on. How the fuck could the government make food illegal to people who were starving? It was madness. Plissken had a hard time comprehending the words on the screen. Maybe he had misread them. It was possible in the smoky room. So, Plissken waited lighting another cigarette.
These charges are effective immediately. Failure to comply will end in immediate imprisonment at New York Maximum Security Penitently."
The name of the place stopped Plissken with the match inches from the cigarette. His gaze returned to the screen where the ticker tape was just starting again. There the laws rolled off again.
It was true! Holy FUCK! Snake didn't know if he had said those words out loud. He smiled slightly when he saw foul language listed as a crime. Insanity! Plissken resumed lighting his cigarette. One drag and the door burst open. Screams and a wave of humanity pushed into Snake's back, pressing him to the bar.
"This establishment is here by closed under Directive 17. You are all under arrest for crimes against God. Any retaliation will be met with force."
Plissken watched the scene in horror. His jaw dropped letting the cigarette tumble to the floor as the head of the USPF squad went on. Pandemonium broke out when the prison was mentioned. The inevitable happened. ARs came up and the police open fire.
"FUCK!" Plissken vaulted the bar nearly landing on the bartender who huddled behind. Snake had no intention of hiding. He worked his way down the bar's length and took off at a full run for the fire door. The alarm went off as soon as he pushed the bar. Snake hardly noticed as he burst onto the street and ran for his life. His body was pumping to the point of burn but in his mind it was the news that stuck. What had happened? How could anyone let this happen? Life term, moral crime, electrocution, prison, immediate, words rang in his head so surreal that he couldn't think. It couldn't be.