XVI
It took the Council longer than anyone had anticipated to decide my fate. I had been in the Palace of Corrective Detention for two months when I began to have conversations with the guard of my cell; a man by the name of Justice 5-9505. He was a friendly man. I knew he only kept me locked up because it was his job. "How are you today, Equality 7-2521?" he'd ask as he bought me my evening meal. "Are you feeling well? You look pale. Perhaps you should eat something."
"I feel fine, thank you, sir. I'm just sick of being locked up in here. I need to get back to my family. And my name isn't Equality 7-2521 anymore, remember? It's Prometheus." I knew he wouldn't call me Prometheus. No one in the Accursed Place would. But I thought if I could gain an ally in this man, then there may be hope after all.
"We were there at your trial, you know," said Justice 5-9505. "We were standing guard to ensure you didn't make a break for it. We found your speech about a new society rather…. compelling. We would be executed for saying so before the Council, but we think they are all rather deluded. They think advancements in society would harm us instead of benefit us, and we don't see their logic in that."
"You are a free-thinker, too?" I asked. I was excited. Perhaps I could convince him to join me.
"What do you mean by that?" he asked.
"I mean that you don't like your lifestyle here and you want to leave," I said. "Am I correct in saying that?"
He hesitated. I knew it was difficult for anyone in this society to break away from the great 'We'. So I was patient with him. After a few minutes of him mumbling unintelligibly and stuttering, he finally got quiet, gulped, and said "Yes. Yes I am. I want to go with you. Prometheus."