A Society of Legends
11 May 2022Iridium Nova
The field operatives of the Kyosei Gakkai adopt metaphorical identities in order to strike fear into the hearts of their enemies. It's kind of a cliche but it works, at least against the weak minded. It also helps them fortify hope in their allies and inspire acts of heroism. It's a time tested method, going all the way back to the beginning of history. From the ancient warriors of epic poems to the selfless avengers of superhero stories, and the big damn heroes of the frontier era, these larger than life characters speak to something intrinsic to the human psyche. It's something I understand well, growing up with those stories. And, yes, I'll admit I'm enchanted at the notion. It reminds me of life in the Imperium. But that was a long time ago. I've changed, and learned the harsh truth about the universe: heroes die and time beats everything into dust. So, what's the point? Simply this: if nothing we do matters, then all that matters is what we do. It's not our place to care about the far future. If that seems callous, so be it. But it's true as well. We're not clairvoyant. We can't possibly know what effect our actions will have on the future. How conceited must we be to believe that spending a lifetime to achieve a specific goal is time well spent. In all likelihood, that accomplishment will either be forgotten, twisted, or undone within another lifetime. Even if your legacy lasts a millennium, in only a fraction of that time it'll have changed into something you'd hardly recognize. That said, great accomplishments do affect the future, of course, but to believe you know exactly how is to lie to yourself. And most of us have to settle for the not so great accomplishments, after all. Not everyone can be a legend.
So the best thing to do, in light of this, is to remember where you are, right here, right now. Instead of pursuing some elaborate plan to make the future better, hoping against reality that things turn out just the way you expect, make your current existence better. Think about what you can do right now to improve your life or the life of another. Self improvement or service to others are the only goals worth working toward, and it doesn't require knowledge of the future or blind faith. If I had spent my childhood doing that instead of dreaming about a universe that didn't exist, I might have been better prepared for the reality of it all.
My opinions on this subject aren't exactly popular with the Kyosei Gakkai. They're much more idealistic. They think they can see the future, to a point anyway. They choose identities based on concepts like justice, valor, and duty. They style themselves like the great warriors, superheroes, and knights of history. Idealists, the way I used to be. I don't blame them. They've not had their dreams ground down into dust by time and life. But despite our differences, they welcome me into their ranks. I suppose it's for the best. They need someone to keep them from losing their grasp on reality. And yes, I've chosen an identity as well: The Iridium Shadow, a relentless spectre of judgement. It's silly, yes, but the suit is pretty creepy, so that's a plus. It's supposed to look like an ancient undead spaceman. Not quite as shiny and clean as the other agents, but it fits my jaded nature.