by Angela Timms
The dome was now clearly visible amongst the swamp and vegetation. It appeared like a shimmering bubble rising out of the green quagmire below. Occasionally it shimmered and a silver or black shuttle craft spewed forth into the cloudy skies above.
The screen fizzed slightly as the lasers burnt off the accumulated insect bodies and they could see clearly again.
The dome was slightly cloudy but it was just possible to see through it. Buildings towered to impossible heights and the contrast between the high technology of the city and the green swamp around it was remarkable. It was as if the bubble held the technology back, or was it the other way around?
A streamlined dart like plane was now flying above them and they were being requested to provide identification or a security code. Kyla bent forwards and typed in a code she had been given by the Prince.
There was a moment’s hesitation where they all held their breath but it was unfounded as a deep husky female voice sounded over the intercom. “You have clearance to land on Pier 7. On behalf of our people we welcome you and hope you enjoy your stay with us.”
The dart like ship veered off to the right and left them to fly through the dome barrier. It parted like water and they were able to pass through as it flowed over them. The ship juddered slightly and veered a little to the right but it kept on course. Rath made the necessary adjustments and they were flying true again.
Rath cleared his where Pier 7 is then?”
There was silence.
Rath smiled. “Ok, well I’d better call this one in.” He thought for a moment and took a deep breath. “This is the Shuttle Obsidian, requesting directions to Pier 7.”
The husky voice was back. “We apologize for our omission, a pilot will be with you shortly. Please hold your current course.”
Rath clicked the intercom off. “Well that should sort it and I got to hear that delicious voice again. Now if we could get an onboard computer with voice delivery that would really make my day.”
Rennon turned to him. “That is easily arranged. Most of the vessels have the technology but it is usually turned off as it is too damned annoying. I’ll activate it for the return journey if you’d like me to.”
Rath looked very pleased with himself. “Sure would, I’ll keep you to that. That voice certainly does it for me.”
A silver dart was now flying alongside them and then it took up the lead just in front of them and wound its way past the tower blocks and pinnacles. Now that they were following someone it did make perfect sense. There was a web of crossing pathways above the buildings that made a grid. There was little time to wonder at the architecture but the general view was of an immaculately and pristinely planned and executed construction. Everything seemed to fit in with the building next to it and it was as if the whole place was built at the same time. As they looked around they realised that each building dovetailing with the next to give an ergonomic dream of efficiency. They could feel the thermals and throat. “So does anyone have any idea updrafts buoying the ship up. Rennon grabbed for his hand held scanner and tapped on the keys. “As I thought, the city was built in one go, planned, designed and executed. The updrafts we are experiencing are from the ventilation systems. The hot air rises from the buildings and it is cooled in the atmosphere and then sinks around the outside of the dome to be pumped back through the cooling system which runs through the whole city. Each building is built on a skeletal infrastructure where each building supports and strengthens the next. It’s all quite smart really and saved them nearly thirty percent on building materials.
The building materials are manufactured from waste products reclaimed from landfills which were created as part of their old existence. They have taken all those never degrading plastics and used them to their best advantage in making the buildings and vehicles we are seeing. They use solar and wind energy to generate the power to run the city. The geo-thermals from the buildings and from vents dug deep into the earth provide a heating source which in turn provides more thermals to run turbines between the buildings which are turned by the rising heated air. They are hard to see as they are delicate and activated by the slightest breeze. There is no weather here so no danger of damage by a freak storm. It’s quite a place. Of course now that we’re going to scratch the surface we’ll see more we may not like.”
Kel gave his usual wry smile. “Then let’s land somewhere where we can see what is really happening then.”
Rennon caught his arm as he was about to alter the course. “No Kel, not this time. These are allies and the war isn’t going well enough that we can afford to make enemies on our own side. We may get a chance but for now let’s just do what we’re told and keep them happy. This trade agreement and protection through their sector of space is essential.”
Kyla was amazing but even different to the high rise buildings above. Look down there. It’s almost a shanty town.” He hit the magnify button for the ship’s windows and got herself a clearer view.
In the depths between the buildings it was very dark. It seemed as if it was raining as the condensation from the building’s air conditioning was condensing and dripping off of every available point. It fell on streets where the less fortunate lived. Down there it looked like a shanty town of shops, traders and people trying to scratch a living. Neon shop signs lit the street, their colours reflected back in pools of water that had accumulated there. Bright coloured umbrellas floated around everywhere like demented butterflies as looking down from here I on the city below. “It is totally can see that down there is very they flitted from shop to shop and made their way through the crowds below.
They were all now fascinated by what they were seeing. By any standards the technology these people walked around with was out of date and basic. It didn’t take long for Rennon to open his mouth and point at a piece of equipment. He was about to speak when the intercom sparked into life. “You will be landing shortly. Please approach slowly and with caution.” Rennon flicked on the intercom. “Thank you and thank you for your assistance.”
The voice responded immediately. “It is my pleasure.” The dart broke away and flew off to join the lines of sky traffic making their way across the airways above.
Rath took over control. “Well I guess I’d better bring this little lady down good and slow then. Strap yourselves in, you never know.”
The shuttle glided down and landed effortlessly on the allotted pier. The pier was just that, it protruded from the top of a high tower block, stopping abruptly in a landing pad which they had just deftly landed on. Rath flicked the switches to standby and landed mode and smiled contentedly. “Another smooth landing by yours truly.” The smile was wiped from his face as the tower block to the right of the one they were attached to exploded in a ball of flame.
Rath was most of the way through the take- off procedure by the time a reassuring voice came over the intercom. “We are sorry about the disruption. It seems that Likatel Industries is having certain problems with its employees currently. Do not worry, this will have little effect on the building your pier is attached to.”
Rath looked at Rennon. “Pretty words but they are interconnected. What happens to one has to harm the rest.”
Rennon looked about the scene and then at Kyla, giving her a reassuring smile. “Yes, but their structure is very cunningly worked out that it gives strength to the next building but does not rely on it. We should be fine. I’m more interested in why the employees felt they had to take such drastic action.”
Kyla looked worried. “I would say we’re not really in a position to go delving too deeply into their affairs. But they can’t stop what we see and what we may see. I say we take whatever is offered and keep our eyes open.
Now, I expect they are scanning us so I would suggest that we made this ship secure and go and visit our new allies.”
Rath was already switching switches and pressing buttons. “I’ve set the autopilot to take off if it detects any trouble, to hover away from any detected trouble and to r
eturn to pick us up. It’s a good system but I really wish we had a Mackenzie Unit.”
Rennon looked confused. “A Mackenzie Unit? I don’t think I’ve heard of one of those.”
Kyla smiled. “Don’t you remember the mannequin the role-players were using on Earth. That was a replica of a Mackenzie Unit. How they heard about that sort of thing I don’t know.”
Rath was just finishing his switching process. “I’m surprised too, it was all very hush, hush. A Mackenzie Unit is an autopilot with a difference. They are cyborgs built to fly all manner of different planes. I had the opportunity to fly with one once, chatty fellow though his topics of conversation were limited to flying. They resemble humans, some have synthetic skin grafts to make them look more human. On many they just plain don’t bother. It’s a bit unnerving as they have a solid metal endoskeleton which looks like a metal skull with red LED eyes and a shiny metal skeleton. Of course when they get the full skin job they look just as human as you or I.”
Kyla looked interested. “What are they like though?”
Rath thought a moment. “Well the one I met was just a regular Joe. He got into the pilot’s chair and flew the plane, finished his shift and got out. He talked a bit and you’d not really know that he wasn’t human other than he had no real emotion. He took everything on face value which was both refreshing and difficult. But, I heard a rumour of a new Mackenzie Model. It could be just a rumour though but some say that they have upgraded the Units and added a personality, even making one an Artificial Intelligence. A bit dangerous if you ask me but then, it is just a rumour.
Well they fly well as they can be programmed and can run through simulations faster than we can think. I like them personally but I only met Matrix 221, an early version.”
Kyla shuddered. “Actually it all sounds a bit creepy. I’ve never been comfortable with the idea of cyborgs.”
Rath was logging his hours and information in his small notebook. “That’s why they were kept as military models. They were useful for flying into dead zones and some of the less hopeful missions. It’s harder to mourn a person than a piece of kit. I did once catch a glimpse of the store room. Now that was creepy. They just stand in a line, some that are out of service hooked up on the wall. I kid you not. They finish their day, walk in there and are put away for the night. Economical I suppose.”
Kel looked up from his quiet contemplation of his hands, the fingers of which were interlocked. “Well, what about this super cyborg, did they hang that one up at night as well.”
Rath looked at him trying to work out if he was serious or not. “Well no, I don’t think they did in the end. To start with perhaps but I heard that they gave her a room.”
Kel raised an eyebrow. “It was a she?”
Rath smiled. “Yes she was a She and by all accounts had quite a figure. Shame they never got around to fixing up her face. I heard that was the one thing that really upset her. Then all this hit and the unit was lost when the ship she was on downed over enemy territory in an early conflict before we truly understood the enemy’s firepower. All life signs were lost and they don’t go looking for lost equipment and lose more lives. But, as I say, that is most likely a rumour or a bedtime story told by some drunken soul or the other.”
Out on the landing pad six soldiers, each dressed in a shiny black carapace, were marching towards them. They marched in unison, visors down, hands swinging synchronized with their marching steps. The crossed the landing pad and formed up in a line in front of the Hopper.
The crew went down to meet them. Kyla stepped forward as one of the soldiers took a step forward to stand about three meters away from her. His visor became clear plastic and she could see his face behind the slightly reflective surface. He snapped his heels together as he stood to attention.
His voice was slightly metallic, synthesized as he spoke, his lips moving not in in sync with what he was saying as the helmet translation device translated what he was saying so they could understand him. “Welcome to our planet. Please follow me.”
He turned on his heels and headed off. Rennon turned and fired the remote locking device at the Hopper. The ramp raised and he heard the satisfying clunk as the automatic system locked the ramp in place. He walked swiftly to join the rest, the residue of the retinue who had held back fell in behind him. They moved swiftly across the landing pad and through a large double door into the room beyond.
It was similar to most reception rooms they had seen in their visits to other planets. A fairly bare room, sparsely decorated, a reception desk and someone there with a terminal waiting to take their details and Rennon stepped processing was swift as they were official visitors so most of the protocols had already been completed. Rennon smiled at the young woman who was waiting to take their details. She blushed slightly and carried on with her job with over effected efficiency. She seemed nervous and Rennon noticed that there was a matronly woman not far away who was watching the slim blonde woman put them through forward to give their immigration controls. the necessary details and intently. She had a clip board and was noting down something as the woman began to ask all the normal questions that they had been through so many times before.
The woman looked up and Rennon tried to convey a reassuring smile of encouragement as it was obvious that the woman was being assessed for her handling of the administration.
Kel looked bored and had started to shuffle his feet. Kyla elbowed him discreetly and he raised his eyes to the ceiling and stood still.
Their processing done the guards took them down a side corridor. Everything was white and chrome, the lighting came from clusters of LED lights in the ceiling and the hard plastic floor made a dull sound as they marched roughly two abreast along it.
The walls were paneled, each panel ending in a chrome metal strip top and bottom. The holes in the panels which reflected slightly red as they passed were not lost on them either. At the end of the corridor the door swished open and they were led out onto a balcony. The safety wall was clear plastic, the floor the same opaque white plastic. They looked down on what looked like a factory floor combined with offices. Machines worked, people assembled things and office workers sat at their desks.
They were led along a balcony corridor which overlooked the workforce and past many doors until they came to one which opened and they were led inside.
The room was sparsely furnished. A clear plastic table, a plastic chair behind it and chairs set out for them opposite the elderly dignitary in plain loosely fitting white robes who sat behind the desk. He was roughly in his late fifties and his salt and pepper hair and steady expression met them with a practiced smile that made Kyla feel nervous. Rennon looked at her, they exchanged glances discreetly as they took a deep breath and stepped forwards to meet the protocol and politics they knew they were about to encounter.
The man got up as they entered the room and stepped towards them. He wore a single simple silver amulet around his neck which flashed slightly red. “Welcome, please take a seat. May I offer you some refreshments?”
Rennon sat down first. “Thank you for your hospitality but no thank you.” They all sat and the dignitary returned to his seat. I am High Chancellor Utiah of the Ocatonian High Council and I speak with the authority of the High Council. Would you forgive me if I dispense with some of the protocol here? The Prince has informed me that such etiquette is not necessary in your presence.”
Kel smiled. “That would be welcome.”
Utiah smiled back. “Good, then I will continue with the more important things that I have to say to you today. Thank you for coming so fast. Our discovery which is the main reason I wished to speak with you so welcomed your request has been both a blessing and a curse. As you may have seen while landing, some of our more, how shall I put it, rebellious I suppose, elements have been stirred up by our discoveries. I would point out that they have so far only been told a part of the information that we have. They mostly comprise our youth and it is to be expected. We are keeping a c
areful watch on it and the culprits are being dealt with firmly and fairly. After all, they will probably be our leaders of the future. But the exuberance of youth aside there are serious issues here. We have found documentation in an old abandoned city here which has changed our outlook on the world. We too have Followers and the documents we have them. Or more precisely where they came from, or should I say where they didn’t come from.
We have in our possession a notebook which was found in a box in a ruined building in part of the old city. As with anything we find of the old ways we brought it here for our librarians to scan it, publish it and preserve it. Information is always made available to our population whether it is detrimental or beneficial and they make their own mind up.
We have been worried for some time that many of our younger elements have been charmed by the writings and teachings of the Followers. Their texts are indeed a good model for what we could say was an utopian society. If carried out to the letter of the original text it would provide a world where everyone lived in harmony with nature and used the worlds resources practically and effectively. But, as with all good ideas there were people to exploit it. I don’t need to tell you about this, you deal with the outcome every day and the way the Followers exploit their own teachings is well known by those who have realised what is going on. This notebook is the original text uncorrupted and unadulterated.
The notebook belonged to Erasmus Deck who lived on this planet until he moved to one of the border rim planets near Estran’Ka’Nelanos. This was long before this city was built and before the older cities became abandoned. He was a youth then, barely a teenager and this is his diary with all his hopes and dreams for this world. It has long been speculated that he was the father of the organization which became known as Fallow Earth. But in his writings it clearly states that all men should be free to make their own decisions which are why the Followers are so dangerous. People are lured in by the initial teachings and then corrupted by the latter. We of been troubled by these found relate directly to the elder generation believe that information should be free.