Aumeha Chronicles: The Expedition

Chapter 15

"I don't know how the fight started but, they were killing everyone who did not bow to Ruther as their king. Yodha and his father Ashur were the first to die. I am Yodha's son" The old man said whom they met earlier on the street.

"How did you guys survive?" Favian asked, still rubbing his hand over the bullet wound which was a small sedative shot. It was enough to knock them out for three complete hours. The dogs were still unconscious.

"We ran out in the desert. I was still in the womb. The bioengineered men didn't do well in the desert. They could only run a mile or two and then dropped. We kept walking for days until we found an oasis. We made it our camp for all of us to recover whoever was left. We lost many people. Near and dear ones. Either to the monster or the desert."

"Who is it that is ruling us now?" Cassini asked.

"Good question. Ruther when he came to the hall. Came with three lookalikes who looked just like him but not quite him. Last rumours had been that he had chosen a successor from one of his bioengineered pieces whose development was monitored personally by him and he had transferred his conscious to a bio processor, which can be assumed close to a brain."

"So even with that much power and knowledge, why is he after you guys?" Favian asked.

The old man took a long sigh. "Natural borns are always powerful. They are the ones who are naturally selected because they had the highest survival Instinct in their natural pool. There is a one in a million exception that an artificial born is better than a natural born. And, that person is way better in all respects. But, on an average they are weaker with much lesser life. Our one day is equal to two days in your artificial environment. And you live at max for 60 years which is 30 years in the real world. Your helicopter will be coming in 2 days in our time. Which is equivalent to 4 days in your time and the average duration of your survival course. Isn't it?"

Taking a pause, The old man looked at the bewildered faces of his captors and continued.

"Aumeha has a unique location. People only see what they are shown, the big beautiful and powerful aumeha. But, after the incident no one is coming in, and whosoever was there either fled or are now dead. Internally, its universities and industries are failing. It is becoming hollow and losing its sheen very fast. Aumeha is surrounded by ocean on one side and desert on the other. If any ship goes out of aumeha it is shot down on sight. But, if anyone would want to conquer aumeha they can do it in a day. Ruther now wants to turn the whole world like this. He wants to rule over the world. Being the ruler now, he can finally do his experiment on live natural-born humans. But, there are none left. If they can somehow capture us, they might be able to create the sharpest army in the whole world. Since, we are evolving and becoming stronger and much faster due to the harsh surrounding. And you guys are evolving to be made like machines. Only those with lesser emotions are spared rest are killed. Therefore, it's a process of artificial selection for survival of the fittest. They want to make machines from humans rather than by humans."

"So, were we born through artificial or natural processes?" Ethan asked

"You were matched and developed artificially but, born naturally. Your parents were probably born artificially. Ethan you are 7-8 years old in normal earth years. But, you are biologically accelerated to be 20 years of age. Your environment is artificially simulated. You guys can only last for a week in this environment without showing symptoms of simulation lag or sim lag as we call it. Your parents were chosen based on certain traits and were asked to have an offspring naturally. A child stays in the mothers' womb for 9 months. But, for you guys it was only 5 months."

"So, what is your plan?" The eager Favian asked

"We want to bring back Aumeha into its earlier form. It means to stop the consciousness of Ruther if it exists and restore the normal humanity and bring it back to its natural form."

"Does that mean you would have to end us also? The bioengineered humans?" Cassini shot back.

"The bioengineering effect will only last a generation at max two, then nature would take its course eventually."

"So, why didn't you kill us?"

"We told you at first. We are not killers. You guys mostly die due to sim-lag which is then blamed upon us. You could go and tell your superiors where we are and what we plan to do. But, they won't be able to kill us. Simply because we don't stay in one place. We move with the dunes. Sometimes fast sometimes slow. I want you guys to join us and help in doing the same." Seeing the young confused faces, he continued "you don't have to decide it today itself. You are being watched inside. When you make up your mind, we will know. You don't have to worry about us even if you rat us out. The human trail that you saw was meant to be followed. We are not here to build enemies. Your ride will be coming soon, you guys should get ready."

"But, two days have passed. They will be coming with their best soldiers!"

"Relax. Check your watches! You were in a simulated cell. Your watches changes and adapts to the real world, as soon as you cross the wall. You were here only for a day. I hope you won't have any sim-lag and feel good!"

They were struck but, Favian replied looking at his pup waking up from unconscious state "Feel good. My lord damn!"