The 20Th Scenario

For several days, Frank Jones experienced many different voices chattering in his head, and he kept flicking off multi-legged creatures crawling all over his skin and ragged clothing. The people serving food in the soup kitchen looked like demons, but he was starving.

The scenario, which only took place in a few real-time minutes, eventually faded as Frank opened his eyes while sitting in a chair.

“Congratulations, Mr. Jones! You’ve completed Scenario One: Homelessness and Mental Illness.” The administrator removed Frank’s neural-sync headset.

“Oh, wow, I’m back! It felt so real. I had forgotten that I was in a simulation. Did I pass or fail?”

“Well, Mr. Jones, that’s for the voters to decide. They’ll observe recordings of your decisions and reactions. We simply administer the scenarios.”

“What’s next on the list?” asked Frank.

“Sorry, sir, they’re supposed to be a surprise with ever-increasing emotional severity or moral dilemmas, but I can give you some hints—domestic violence, frontline warfare, various disabilities, imprisonment, and a refugee crisis.”

After Frank went through other scenarios …

“Is there any other way?” Frank’s forehead sweated, and his hands trembled.

“I’m afraid not, Mr. Jones. The new policy requires that you complete at least 20 scenarios to qualify as a political candidate. But please keep in mind there’s no limit, and your opponents will probably continue taking more.”

Frank finally reached the 20th scenario ...

“Mr. President, sir, you have to decide,” said the carrier of the nuclear football. “We’ve detected multiple incoming ICBMs. Should we retaliate?”