The Greatest Lie

Mission Activated

The future was supposed to be one of flying cars, robots, and virtual reality, but that dream came crashing down when people had bigger things to worry about than advancing technology. It didn't matter how smart your phone was, if your car could drive by itself, or how many likes you got on your social media post when you didn't know where your next meal was coming from. People had become consumed by technology and the distraction from real life it provided. A person's identity became wrapped up in showing off how good their life was to virtual strangers around the world. What people had a hard time understanding was that people instinctively only showed the good side of their lives to the online world. All the jealousy, depression and despair people felt from viewing these braggadocious posts was all fabricated in people's minds. Instead of people living life to the fullest and enjoying the moment, people were too wrapped up in getting the best picture, adding the most attractive filters, and doing anything to make their lives seem better than it really was. This virtual world was quickly ripped away when the internet went dark. People had forgotten how to live and socialize like they used to, and they were forced to relearn what it was like to live without technology. Kim was still a child and had only gotten a brief taste of what life was like with electronics everywhere you looked. Even with her young, naive brain, she was confused why people always seemed more focused on looking down at their phones than interacting with the people around them. Her parent's were guilty of the electronic consumption as well, but they had always made sure that Kim was the priority. Not every child who had grown up during this time could relate with Kim, as most of them had been plopped in front of electronic babysitters as their parents sat in the corner of the room with their noses glued to their phones.

Concern was beginning to set in, but Kim tried her best to not show it. It had been over a week since the members of X had dispersed to try and build an army. She knew it would take Jack much longer to fulfill his mission, but Yao should have returned by now. There was only so long that they could wait before they would have to send someone else to try again, or start their first mission with limited members and lower odds of success. Everyone that was left at the camp was beginning to feel useless with all the waiting around. Kim repeatedly reassured everyone that they needed to be patient, but doubt was beginning to creep in to some of the followers. This was the first time that the members of X were starting to question Kim's decision. It didn't make sense to them that they were letting M Corp already start to implement the lottery when they could do something about it now to try and stop it. They never would tell it to Kim's face, but she heard the rumors being whispered silently that they had already failed and it was too late. She didn't let it get to her as she knew that none of this was going to be an easy task. Every obstacle that people could even fathom would be thrown at them, and then even more that they could have never predicted would most likely be sprung upon them. They had to be flexible and improvise when needed, but the uncertainty was hard for some of the members to bare.

Their normal daily routines still needed to be done, which included the mandatory shifts to watch for intruders coming up the mountain. Another cycle had been completed, and it was now Kim's turn again to spend the next few hours watching the mountain side. She propped herself up against the outside cliff face of the cave, and Kim meditated as the gentle breeze blew across her body, occasionally forcing her dark black hair to tickle her nose. Her body was in a heightened sense during these times of trying to connect with her inner self. She could smell the flowers that were blossoming at the base of the mountain, as well as the water from the cold mountain stream that meandered not far from the opening of the cave. Her ears picked up the song birds and high pitched chirps of the grasshoppers. She had spent more hours than she could remember in the lotus position letting her mind wander and mother nature take over. Deep in a trance with her mind elsewhere, Kim's senses began to subconsciously pick up something that was just slightly out of the ordinary. It took her a few moments to latch onto what it was, but there was something a little different about the smells being blown her way. The birds were beginning to sing a little less, and Kim knew that something or someone new was close.