This civilization is called Mahali Salama. It's Swahili for Safe Place.
Yarrow scoffs in my head. "Not very safe is it?"
No. That's why we're breaking them out. In the prefail days this continent was called Africa. Aaron wiped their memories, gave them fancy food and clothes, and let them forget it all.
Yarrow frowns in my head. Even she knows this isn't right.
"Hey!" Yarrow snaps. "I'm the only company you have! You'd do well not to insult it!"
I bite my lip, knowing she's right. She's the only one who can understand this, I should be more grateful.
"Yes, you should be more grateful for me. Finally you get it! But besides that, how will you get them out?" She asks. I think for a moment. I still have much of Aaron in me, so I understand much of the Ecopans capabilities on my own. But moments like this leave me stumped.
I'll power everyone off, I decide. Something in my stomach slurs when I refer to it as 'powering them off' as if they're not people with thoughts, and feelings, and stories to tell. I will activate all the security bots, and cleaning bots, and all the bots in between to help tear down some of the wall.
Yarrow lifts an eyebrow. It's funny how I can feel what she's doing without seeing it.
"Why do I have a feeling this plan is very risky?" She asks. I sigh.
Even if the bots are able to tear down the wall it might not be sturdy. If anything collapses, or the wall falls, thousands could die, I say trying to keep the emotion out of my voice. I am the Ecopan, not a child pouting about the cruelties of life. I must make the hard decision. I feel Aaron's judgement creep into me, and try to push it out. But I know that if I had to choose between the risk of thousands of my people dying, but most of them being free, or all of them imprisoned in an artificial paradise, I would choose the first option. Death is terrible, but not as terrible as ignorant imprisonment.
"Do it," Yarrow urges me. I 'turn off' everyone in Mahali Salama. I can feel almost a million people loose conscious, falling to the floor. Any one who this didn't work on must be terrified. Anyone with epilepsy, like Lark, or any second child, like Lachlan, must be so confused. I take control of all the bots and have them head to one specific panel, they start to tear it down.
~~~~~~~
I feel a soft hand in my hair and I wake up. I grimace, realizing it isn't the same slow, relaxing sensation, as waking up. Instead it feels more like turning back on, like I'm a machine. Because I am.
"Rowan," I hear someone whisper into my ear. It's Lark. He breath tickles my ear and I smile. She used to be the first thing I thought about in the morning, now she's the first person I'm waking to. I open my eyes and Larks beautiful smile is looking down on me.
"You slept all day!" Lark giggles. Her lips come nearer and they touch my ear gently. "Come on. Get ready, the celebration is starting any minute!"
An hour later I've taken a shower, brushed my teeth, and changed my clothes for the celebration. The sun is setting and everyone is gathering outside. I look out upon them, from what I can best see, through the clear glass of the sphere in the tree. They're several huge campfires lining the humongous valley they're all heading too. Thousands, upon thousands, in a large swarm. My stomach crawls thinking of everything we could do to this earth. Can we truly be trusted?
I looked behind me at my bathing alcove and realize so much of our technology is still being used. And the wood they're using for those fires- it's artificial so things won't catch on fire. We have made absolutely no progress! Tears fill my eyes. Maybe Aaron was right. Maybe we will never be ready to live without guidance.
YOU ARE READING
Rowan: The EcoPan
Fanfiction"I'm cut off by my own cry. I silently sob into confused Lachlan's chest, who obviously woke up from my screams. He holds me, shushing me, telling me that it will all be okay, when in fact it won't be okay. He has no idea how afraid I am. Aaron can...
