Mech

Chapter 14: The Past

When I awoke, my face was buried in the old pages of Fink's journal. I abruptly pulled my body up, making sure I didn't accidentally drool on it. I looked around. Most of the group was still asleep. Max tossed an turned slightly, he may have been having a nightmare. Jason sat on top of a large air pipe with his rifle in this lap. He looked out through the pipes as the sunrise shined through in patches of yellow and orange beams. He watched intently, listening to every sound, ready to defend his slumbering friends..well, family. Aaliyah was asleep, but her hand lay open with the chip resting in her palm. She looked calm, which was amazing considering everything she's been through in that past 48 hours. I sat up, placing Fink's journal in my lap and continuing to read.

June 12, 3053

Sakura was caught playing amongst the construction. She's taken a huge liking to playing with the Cycoffs and other robots, which is not safe for a child. Several construction workers hunted me down and dumped the child on me quite angrily. I don't believe she was harmed in any way, but she could have been. Thank goodness she didn't bring her sister along, as well. That would have been a catastrophe! I took her back to her Father, I pray she isn't disciplined too harshly.

Sakura..is that..it must be.

June 14, 3053
The pipe forests of the first level have been experiencing some..difficulties. The filters and fans of some of the ventilation ducts have gone offline. All the officials evacuated back outside the walls in fear that fresh air would stop flowing to the inner levels. I have faith in Alexander's design and the construction workers we employed, but Alexander wanted to assure his children were safe while the issue was fixed. He commanded me to take them out to his estate a few miles from the Western gate. Necessary precautions, that's all. He said he'd send word when it was proven safe. I hope this truly is a minor disturbance. The Board is not pleased.

I skipped several pages.

December 8, 3057

No word from Alexander. He's been locked up with his children in his workroom for a month now, and before that he had been lost in his work for several months. My brother, Simon, the head of construction, assures me that Utopia will be finished on time with or without the Professor's assistance. I, however, am not so sure. I have seen many seemingly unsafe actions carried out by the Board lately. Alastair convinced them the pipe forests don't need cover buildings. What if someone wanders inside? It could be dangerous for a civilian. I, as an apprentice, have no say in the matter, and the fact that I can't get Alexander out of that workshop makes it difficult to challenge these decisions.

January 1, 3058

A new year has come and the workers rejoice. All of the Directors and officials share several bottles of wine in the meeting room. Alexander's children watch the distant fireworks from a window in the workshop. I brought a bottle of the finest wine I could get my hands on and some cookies for the children. The Professor opened the door long enough to take these gifts and thank me, then shut himself away again. I sent a Carrier Cycoff up the wall with some toys for the children tied to its back. They waved handkerchiefs out the window in gratitude. It put a smile on my face to know they are still happy cooped up in there. I fear for this year. Utopia is supposed to open by November. I highly doubt it will be complete.

I skipped a few more pages.

October 8, 3058

My suspicions were correct. Alastair has been rigging the whole game. He has made it impossible to open the gates next month by delaying as many projects as he could on purpose! He wants this place to be solely a factory made to bring in money, not a Utopia to keep humanity safe! He's using this place to make himself the richest man on the planet. The devil! I'm going to Alexander's workshop, I'm getting in there and I'm going to have him order the opening of the gates for another few years and fix this mess.