The Mayor

Flash Fiction submission for Iron Age Media's weekly prompt: The Outlanders. The image comes directly from the Iron Age Media.

            The engine roared to a stop as the elevator carried the mayor to the center of the flying machine. He looked at his watch while adjusting his top hat. Then he breathed in deeply before addressing the multitudes before him. “As you all know It has been long journey,” he said. “We’ve mourned the ones we’ve lost and remembered the home we once had. We’ve laughed together and cried with one another. But no longer do we have to run. We’ve finally found safety. A place to take shelter from the storm.” Most of the crowd erupted in cheers, but a few sent boos the mayor’s way.

            “How do you know it’s safe,” someone said. “Liar” another called out.

            The mayor sighed. “Now, now” he said. “I understand your concerns. But you must have faith. I can assure you that the best and brightest among us have told me that there is no safer place to be. According to their data this is the one spot on the planet that the storm is not projected to pass through.” The naysayers went silent as the rest of the crowd cheered. I do hope they’re right, he thought. “Of course, it will not be easy. In fact, it will be quite the opposite. We lost many people and supplies along the way. But now that we are here, we can rebuild. We can create a new home for mankind among the stars. Now let us descend.” The engine started again, and the crowd went silent, anticipating what was going to come next.

            The flying machine made its final descent towards hope and the air within the machine was tense. Not a soul dared to make any discernible noise. The land below was rocky and desolate. But thankfully there was a still lake nearby the landing zone. It would be a wasteland if it wasn’t for that. Perhaps someone is looking out for us, the mayor thought. Certainly, it wasn’t perfect, but a source of fresh water was far and few between now with the raging storm carrying away entire seas, but it would have to do. And besides, what choice did they have? There was no home to go back to, and perhaps nowhere safer on the planet than the canyon in which they would now be residing. The mayor’s eyes swelled at these thoughts, as the the last people on the planet were now under his protection. Perhaps if the escape pods hadn’t been destroyed by the storm, he would be back on earth with his family now. Instead, he was lightyears away with no way to send a message home. They truly were alone in the universe.

            No matter. Perhaps the mayor did not originally desire the responsibility he now had, but he would seize it anyway. Sometimes great men are made not by their abilities but by the reaction they have to the cards given to them. And the mayor would rise and play the game if that’s what it was going to take. He would keep his people safe, and perhaps create a name for himself in the process. He was the first interstellar mayor after all.

            The mayor was the first one off the flying machine once it landed. He took a few steps out onto the dusty ground with his cane before looking back at the people. His people. “Together we will build a haven for mankind” he said. “One day your descendants will look back at their history as they reach the stars once more and be grateful for the hardships you went through. Together we strive not for survival, but for greatness.” This time the entirety of the crowed cheered. He had won them over. Now, he simply needed to live up to the task at hand. The task of leadership. A monumental task, he thought as he leapt forward into his new role as the leader of mankind.

The end.

Thank you for reading.

God bless.