Oakwood: Shuttle Run

"Oakwood: Shuttle Run" marks the first appearance of Emerson Palmer, beginning with the story of his wasted youth.  Presupposing that his involvement with drugs prevented him from such accomplishments as: “discovering the Unified Field Theory” and “graduating from Cornell,” it is the story of a life wasted.
The majority of the story-arch follows Emerson as he takes a taxi to a pharmacy to acquire medication of an unknown nature with a dubious prescription. Upon getting back into the taxi, Emerson offers to sell the pills to the taxi driver Vern for three dollars each.  Vern declines and states his preference for marijuana so Emerson offers to get him high.  
As they smoke, the XM Radio relays news of Dr. William Isaac's continued and amazing scientific discoveries. Emerson sadly compares himself to Dr. Isaac. Emerson laments the direction that his life has taken.  Deep down, he senses that he could have been much more than he became, just a broken down old drug dealer.  Emerson thinks that perhaps he could have been “a public speaker.”
In the penultimate scene, the reader is witness to Emerson’s arrest and subsequent incarceration.  From there, the story shifts some time into the future and we see new man: a galvanized, driven Emerson Palmer who is no longer under the influence of drugs.  The text here is a transcription of the first speech that he delivers to his fellow inmates at the Arizona State Prison Complex in Scottsdale. This speech is the beginning of what will become the Convict Revolution that later reshapes the state of Arizona.  
The title "Shuttle Run" is a reference to the high school gym activity whereby two runners line up and race each other for the best time.  The object is not to beat the other runner; in fact, he or she is only present to provide psychological incentive to do one’s best.  This parallels Emerson Palmer’s eventual application of his talents as a public speaker only after weighing his life achievements against those of Dr. Isaac. 
Category:Oakwood Anthology
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Category:Kel Winser