Page 24 of Tapeworld Induction

Feeds. Like cows in the old days. Cattle feeding on the grass.

StreetSocial was a greatest hits of dopamine highs. The United States had officially broken up ten years ago today, coinciding neatly with yesterday’s Brexit Remembrance, observed by the Twin Queens. Resilient neophyte fascists went on about migrants and the cost of living, among many calls to bring back legal meat from opposition MPs. It turned her stomach, but she kept reading.

She clicked a headline about the Kingdom to the west.

WHAT REMAINS OF ‘TURTLE ISLAND’

In the advent of nuclear detonations on American soil, and after years of strong-arm politics keeping a crumbling Congress in place, the former POTUS agreed to the State Independence proposal ten years ago today.

“The American experiment concludes. Let the world learn from our mistakes, and indeed from our greatest victories. The curtain may be drawing on this union, but liberty will live on in the hearts of man forever more.”

Following his statement, President Templeton was stripped of his title and returned to life as a civilian, living peacefully until he was shot to death a few days later, as per the tradition instated at the end of the 3rd Ultracon term.

That was the last Presidential Closure. Since then, the former USA has entered the custody of the Third Kingdom, The Book, where its states are treated as company subsidiaries. A more perfect union, broken and reshaped into something else. Many took to calling it the Kingdom of America.

Dylan felt a mix of disgust and passionate anger. Everything about the Third Kingdom triggered a bad taste in the mouth. The death of a kakistocracy sounded like a thing to celebrate and remember, but the people at the top never paid the real human cost.

Soundlessly, as her phone was permanently on mute, a notification appeared at the top of her screen. A text from Talia.

@talia: Soo @dylan… you never told me what happened after I left you with that dude? You two seemed… very cosy.

Dylan hesitated to text back. Talia would be expecting the kiss and handsomeness report, the entire eligibility check. Not to hear that he’d taken her to an underground, exclusive virtual reality. She took a deep breath.

@dylan: We cuddled. Nothing else.

@talia: Give me the details!

@dylan: there’s nothing to give

@talia: drinks ASAP – I need to confirm this in person xx

The Spalding Arms was an alternative-style pub – lowered lights hanging on black cable, wide white lampshades, wooden tables with black steel frames, thick jam jars instead of glasses. It felt kind of retro, and Dylan was lucky enough to be a local – again thanks to her parents for helping her afford the place, really.

There were a few other groups of pub-goers seated around her and Talia; it seemed to be a popular place for a Tuesday evening.

“Okay, let’s hear it!” Talia demanded, while flipping through the lapboard to order drinks, her fingernails pink with red French tips. As she scrolled through the menu there was a satisfying tiny audible click with every tap of her nails on the screen.

It was hard for Dylan to resist whenever her friend took this much interest. How could she tell Talia he was a decent guy without mentioning the secretive club he’d invited her into?

“Isaak is sweet.”

Talia’s looked up from the menu and she made an approving face. “Isaak? Cute name.”

“He’s awkward,” Dylan admitted.

“So are you!”

“He was with the London Lazarus.”

Talia’s eyes went wide. “What?! He’s a celeb?”

“Not anymore,” Dylan said quickly. “It sounds like he has it rough.” She thought about mentioning his limp, but she didn’t want Talia to think any less of him for it. There was nothing wrong with him, really, and any hang-ups about his leg were mainly his own.

“Shame. ReSports and VR are making a comeback,” Talia said.

Dylan’s heart skipped a beat. “VR? What kind?”

“What do you mean, what kind? Just VR. Not even full-body scanning like ReSports, no having to run around, just sitting and gesturing. The Queens have invested in it.”