Arynthe's Story

Teamwork

(continuation)

The Rebirth year became a glorious year. You would expect building an entire world and society would go slowly and violently, but don't forget who we were. We already knew what a world and society should be like. That was the advantage of the Darkening being only 14 years, and maximum Ashirian lifespan being 200-250 years. There were many people that already knew how to build the tools we needed, what way we should construct our cities, how to keep us all fed. On top of that, we were bloody motivated. We were one enormous team and we were going to make this work. 

After Phase One (food, home, contact) they made tools, then they used the tools to make houses, and in those houses progress was made even faster. This was Phase Two (beware, population growth soon). During this phase I took the eight group leaders and explained my design of the Ashirian government to them. 

We built the Team Tower with our own hands. That's the beauty of everything still needing to be done. The Team of Nine built their own tower, and every member built their own office. We made it out of metal in the middle of the third city, because it was the closest to the center of our territory. We made it out of material we collected from Torrayan ruins in the forest. It was done just in time for Phase Three (build society before the problems start). 

I presented to the Ashirian people the Law Foundations. They are as follows:

1. It's forbidden for every creature with a brain that lives on this planet to hurt (be it physically, be it mentally) or kill others. If you still do so, you can be (partially) forgiven if you had a good reason for it. A good reason is if it was to help the victim or if you had no choice but to hurt or kill someone. 

2. Every creature with a brain that lives on this planet has a right to exist, to live and stay alive, to have an opinion and express it (be it love, be it hate), to achieve things and to become happy. 

3. Every creature with a brain that lives on this planet has a duty to protect their own rights, but also to protect those of others, or at least to not stand in their way. 

4. If the government makes more laws, they are not to contradict these Law Foundations, or they can't be considered valid. 

To make sure they wouldn't easily be changed I had them carved into the walls of the Team Tower and also into the walls of all schools that were built, so that everyone could read them every day. 

The political system grew the way I had planned it: I became the first Mara and the former group leaders the Council of Eight. I divided our team in three groups, each with their own responsibilities for the planet. These groups became the Clusters. 

I was so busy this year that I didn't have time to visit Zad on the Torrayan station, but luckily he understood. His timing couldn't be more perfect as in the seventh superweek he came to visit me in my office. 

"You've sure been working hard," he said. "I can't believe you folks built all this in less than a year!"
I nodded proudly. "It even surprised me, and my expectations were quite high."

I walked Zad to the balcony. There, we looked down at the Third City. We called it "Shela Valley" because the city was built in a valley and the former group leader's name was Shela. How logical we can get. 

"I'm so glad," I whispered. "I'm so glad this worked out so well. Now with you Torrayans on our side this world won't be destroyed as easily anymore. I feel like this could last forever."
"You're the one to make it happen," Zad said, and he laid his arm around my shoulders. "It looks like you'll be in charge here for quite some time." 

I looked down at the glittering houses in the blazing afternoon sun. From the balcony they looked like enormous gemstones. I heard school kids that were on break run after each other laughingly, and adults walking through the streets, in silence or while talking. It was strange: it felt a little like being on Old Ashiria, but also not. 

"I hope I'm doing it all correctly," I said. "I mean, I sometimes feel so lazy if I see all those people working so hard, and I'm sitting in my office working out a plan, or standing on this balcony coming up with plans."
Zad nodded. "I can imagine it feels that way. Still, don't forget that it was these plans of yours that made all this happen. I think if there's one Ashirian to rule this place, it's you." 
I laughed. "Me?" I asked. "I'm just another individual with a dream."
"Yes," Zad said softly, "but your dream is pure and good, and you fight for it. Too many people sit and wait until the luck comes to them, and even more people let the dark and the taste of power corrupt them and have dreams with them on top of the world."
"And where am I standing now?" I laughed.
"Did you have a choice?" Zad replied. "There was only one way to make your dream come true. I know you by now, Arynthe. You being Mara is just a side effect." He patted my back gently and continued: "A damn fortunate side effect, that's for sure."