Eros Unleashed

I get by with a little help from my friends

The small group of Securitat officers strutted arrogantly past the line of civilians waiting at the checkpoint. They were clearly bored and it seemed only a matter of time before they directed their collective malice at some unfortunate victim. Their ranks were made up of members of the ruling elite and lower-class citizens persuaded to join the Securitat with the promise of a more elevated social status, a sort of halfway house between the common rabble and higher echelons of society. Their reward was an enhanced package of privileges, which included a larger monthly alcohol allocation and, more importantly, the right to engage in sexual intercourse with the partner of their choice. This ersatz elite were still barred from procreating and raising a family, a privilege reserved exclusively for the lucky few who passed Dildopia's rigorous genetic screening tests. Whatever their background, Securitat officers were loathed and feared by ordinary citizens, who went out of their way to avoid contact with them. The sinister uniforms they wore didn't help their cause. Taking styling cues from the totalitarian regimes of the 20th century, their uniforms had been deliberately designed to look intimidating. Securitat officers wore black shirts and loose-fitting black combat trousers tucked inside their highly-polished leather boots. Their black berets were emblazoned with the Securitat emblem; a clenched iron fist clutching a lightning bolt on a blood red shield. This potent symbol was repeated on the armbands they wore. The Securitat team was led by a grizzled, hard-nosed veteran with a broken nose who looked like the kind of man who knew how to handle himself in a fight. Each officer was armed with a holstered firearm, heavy rubber baton, canisters of pepper spray and a scary looking electroshock weapon. They questioned everyone who passed through the security barricade and conducted intrusive interrogations on people they took a dislike to. Young women were often subjected to invasive body searches, which the Securitat officers laughingly used as a pretext to grope their breasts and buttocks. Ostensibly they were Dildopia's guardians, whose job was to check pedestrians and vehicles entering and leaving the city. They were tasked with the seizure of goods and materials not on the Central Committee's proscribed list and preventing undesirable persons, such as vagrants, northerners and other assorted social outcasts from gaining entrance to the city. Despite being early morning, their zealousness had caused long queues to form on either side of the checkpoint. Citizens held up by the security check waited with quiet resignation to pass through the barrier and be on their way. Fortunately for the Salvage and Reclamation team, the Securitat officers recognized their vehicle and let them through with a perfunctory wave. They were aware that the team's forays into the wilderness were sanctioned at the highest level and that their activities shouldn't be impeded.

'Jumped up little fuckers,' Will growled, as he engaged gear and accelerated away from the checkpoint.

'The nice Securitat officers are just doing their job,' Frank replied, his voice laced with sarcasm.

'That isn't a real job,' Will replied gruffly, 'dressing up in those stupid uniforms is just an excuse to push people around and pretend to be tough.'

Jake watched in the mirror as Dildopia's skyline slowly receding into the distance. Eventually all he could see was the towering edifice of Schlong Towers before that too disappeared from view. The three men visibly relaxed as they left the city behind and entered the wilderness zone. Frank and Will began to chat animatedly about the forthcoming local district elections, which they both agreed would most likely be rigged and thus not worth participating in. Jake didn't join the conversation, preferring to sit in silence and watch the passing scenery. Frank was aware his friend had been unusually withdrawn and introspective in recent weeks. He studied Jake intently after the discussion about the elections finally petered out.

'You're very quiet today,' he remarked.

'I've got a lot on my mind,' Jake answered, staring distractedly into the distance.