This is a science fiction story about a man who travels through time and space to a future world where humans have created a utopia, but it turns out that this world is actually a prison. The main character, who is not named, is a time traveler from the past who has been brought to this future world by a woman named Jokan. As the story begins, the main character is in a room with Jokan and a group of people who are conditioned to be obedient and complacent. They are all wearing white togas and have blank expressions on their faces. The main character is shocked and horrified by what he sees, and he realizes that this world is not as perfect as it seems. Jokan takes the main character to meet Draken, a scientist who has been working on a project to free humans from their conditioning. However, when they arrive at Draken's laboratory, they find that he has been killed by the Council, a group of powerful men who are determined to maintain control over the population. The main character and Jokan then go to the heart of the World-City, where they find a lever that controls the entire system. The main character is hesitant to pull the lever, but Jokan convinces him to do it. As soon as he does, the city begins to collapse, and the main character realizes that he has made a terrible mistake. The story then jumps forward in time to the present day, where the main character and Jokan are still together, fighting against the Fascistic disease that is threatening their world. However, they are both haunted by the knowledge of what they have done, and they are unsure if they will ever be able to win their fight. The story ends with a conversation between the main character and Jokan at a meeting of the International Agencies in Casablanca. Jokan asks him if he thinks they will ever win their fight against the Fascistic disease, and the main character replies that he is an optimist. However, Jokan knows what he is really thinking, and she tells him to try to forget the fact that the world they are fighting for will eventually be destroyed. The story raises questions about the nature of utopia and the consequences of playing God with human society. It also explores themes of free will and determinism, as well as the tension between individual freedom and collective security. Overall, this is a thought-provoking and unsettling science fiction story that challenges readers to think critically about the world we live in and the choices we make.
By Bryce Walton · First published 1987 · Genre: Science Fiction, Dystopian, Horror