Children Of Gaia

Chapter 2: Gaia Station

A large crowd had formed seemingly out of nowhere, creeping and manifesting from the shadows. There were hundreds of people coming into view, they all looked ragged and half starved. Though they were the downtrodden, within their eyes burned the fierce and desperate hope for a brighter future. For they represented the vast majority of the world's remnants, the dying working classes. At their centre, a soapbox of sorts had been hastily erected. A lone speaker stood tall and proud before a makeshift microphone atop his podium.

"My brothers, my sisters. I implore you, heed my warning. Do not be taken in by their lies, do not allow yourselves to be mindlessly controlled. We are left to starve, whilst they grow fat from their vast food stores. We must rise up, stand united and fight for what is rightfully ours!"

The speaker took a single step back from the podium, and raised his hands to further incite the crowd. The hundreds gathered erupted in cheers and praise for the cause. The chorus quickly turned aggressive as riot police arrived and began to encroach on the crowd. Whilst the police line marched forward in unison, a second voice arose seizing the attention of the crowd. One of the officers was using a megaphone, directing the crowd to calm down and disperse immediately. In what seemed like a single fleeting moment, the first brick was thrown and the crowd was engulfed in tear-gas. Those who weren't persuaded well enough the first time were then hit with an acoustic barrage. Hundreds dropped to their knees with hands over their ears and tortured faces, clawing at an unseen enemy. The unlucky few foolish enough to charge the line were fired upon with 12 gauge electro-stun rounds, their convulsing bodies collapsed instantly before the polished boots of the riot police.

With the video presentation over, the screen dissipated and the room illuminated. The teacher stood back up in front of the class and he noticed instantly that some of his students were snickering at something. All their eyes were trained upon the teacher's aid off in the corner of the room.

The teacher jerked his head to see behind himself, only to find that Felix was slouched in his chair and just barely conscious. "Well, Mr Carlisle! What is your take on the subject matter then, hmm?" asked the teacher with an impatient sigh.

"Yes, of course. Sorry, Sir," replied Felix sitting up, "ah, what was the question?" he yawned in his usual coy fashion causing the entire class to erupt in laughter until the teacher raised his hand.

"Alright alright, that's enough settle down everyone." Directed the teacher whilst pinching the bridge of his nose lightly. "Gaia?" he called out.

"Yes, David?" she responded in her maternal and delightfully lilting tone. At any one time, Gaia could be taking part in a million conversations or more. She was always available to anyone who wished to speak with her, from all serious items, to even the most mundane of matters.

"How much longer does the lesson have?" David enquired apathetically as he reached out to his desk for balance.

"Just over 12 minutes. Will that be all, David?" responded Gaia.

"Yes, thank you, Gaia. Alright guys, you're free to leave early," said David, much to the elation of his modern history class. David paused briefly, looking quite serious, "except you, of course, Felix."

Felix rolled his sullen blue-grey eyes, releasing a pent up sigh.

The class collected their belongings and funnelled out the door as Felix took to his feet and stepped forward to receive his private lecture.

"Look, I understand it was short notice for you to fill in for Rebecca, but honestly, sleeping?" snapped David.

Felix wanted to sneer and immediately thought better of himself. "I know, I know. My apologies."