Chapter 13: Nova Terra

Yuki was going to be our driver as well as our escort for the day. I knew that they were a highly trained, military Aethereusian, who had deserted with Fiori. And although we had all been living under the same roof for a while now, I had never really had the chance to talk with them. Meyer had told me that they had unbelievable sniper skills. The deadliest he’d ever seen. If they could set eyes on it, they could hit it; bulls eye every time. And they had mastered the art of kenjutsu to its highest level. During their time with the military, Yuki had been an extremely efficient assassin and had eliminated many high-profile dissidents. Needless to say, I was glad they were now on our side. And today, I was glad they’d be our escort. It made me feel a whole lot safer.

As soon as Fiori arrived, we jumped in the car. Yuki and him in the front; Meyer, Eli and I in the back. It was a much smaller car than the ones we had used for the last assignment. Fiori explained that this car was a newer model. Instead of the solar panel being mounted as a separate unit, it had been integrated into the body of the car. This design improvement eliminated the need for additional structure, which allowed for a more aerodynamic frame and a lighter vehicle. This model was so efficient that we would be able to go all day on a single charge. More importantly, it was the most common one found in the capital city of Nova Terra, and should allow us to blend right in. According to him, it would take us just over half an hour to get downtown, as long as we didn’t run into trouble.

The area we lived in was old. The buildings were many and all very close together. Each tower of three to five floors looked the same; there were no architectural features or design elements of any kind. They were all just giant concrete rectangles with windows. They had originally been built as emergency shelters, following the relocation of the people selected to live in Antarticum, those deemed worthy of a second chance. Though these buildings were devoid of any aesthetic value, they provided what was needed: quick, cheap and easy to build accommodations. In the last twenty-five years, many had been abandoned, as single-family dwellings were becoming more affordable and widespread.

The building we lived in, at one point, had been a hotel where newly arrived citizens lived until they were assigned to their new homes. We occupied 3 of the 5 floors. We had a few solar panels giving us just enough electricity for our basic needs, and our water was collected in rain barrels on the roof. In our neighborhood known as Porta Advena, that was standard.

Porta Advena was on the west side of Nova Terra. All that separated us from downtown was a highway running north to south; however, a lack of road maintenance made it difficult for anyone to travel from Porta Advena to any other part of the city. This was not a happenstance; it had been the government’s way to isolate a known problematic part of town following the rebellion. The power had been shut down and the military no longer actively patrolled the area. As a result, crimes of opportunity and despair had soon taken over. With no one in control of the streets, new rebel groups moved in and flourished; easily gaining supporters in this forsaken place.

We saw the highway first. Raised up high in the air. A massive, brand new, white, concrete structure, running 6 lanes wide. If a highway could be deemed majestic, then this was it! Behind it, we could see the skyline of the buildings which formed the downtown core, shining brightly in the darkness. We made our way under the overpass; the highway was like a frontier, and on the other side of it, a completely different city. Shops with bright lit signs were lining the streets. Pedestrians, families, bicycles, strollers. There were trees too, planted in a median strip. Big trees surrounded by dormant greeneries. Meyer explained to me that the streetlights were advanced horticultural lighting, allowing for the vegetation to thrive even during the long sunless months. The planters were heated, the sidewalks too.

All the buildings were painted white and had a black gambrel roof. Each window had a windowsill planter with what looked like bright colored artificial flowers. Although there was beauty to be found in the uniformity, it somehow appeared static and lacking in character. But then, when you’ve spent your entire life between four walls, this sight was… charming.

Fiori motioned Yuki to park the car by a shop with a fluorescent pink sign. He ordered us to stay put and disappeared inside the establishment for a few minutes. When he came out, he was carrying five small containers on a tray. He handed one to each of us.

Meyer squealed, which made both Eli and I laugh.

“I’ve had this once before!” Meyer exclaimed with enthusiasm.

“Then eat up kids,” said Fiori. “Not that it would melt in this weather.”

All five of us dug in. I was surprised by how cold it was. I had never had frozen food before. But it was pleasant to feel it melt in my mouth. And it tasted so good.

“It’s called ice cream,” explained Fiori.

Ice cream, I thought, well… I have a new favorite food.

Apples were delicious, but ice cream was divine.

As soon as we were done eating, we took to the road again. The plan was to stay on the outskirt of the city where security was lax and make our way to the east side; the side closest to Ortus University. There, we were to check out a few locations. For what? I wasn’t sure, but I could only assume it had to do with the bombing Hana was planning. Then, we’d head back home using a different route, bringing us in sight of the central administrative building.

Meyer called it a scouting mission. Fiori insisted, it was just a fun day out. Either way, I didn’t care. After eating that ice cream, I could die a happy man.

We started circling the town. It was more or less a repeat of the exact same scenery. Every street looked the same. All the houses looked the same. The shop signs were varied as to the type of shop it was, but the actual establishments were identical to the ones beside it. Each avenue had a coffee house, an ice cream parlor, a bank, a few restaurants, a bar, a few clothing stores, a grocery… Each avenue extended from the outskirt of the town and met in the middle, where the central administrative building was located. On the outskirt, Congyro Avenue connected all these roads and formed a perfect circle around the downtown core. Everything about this town was orderly. It had been planned; it had been designed; nothing had been left to chance.

It took us almost an hour to get to the east side. Beyond Congyro Avenue, a new subdivision was in the process of being built. When it was finished, there would be whole neighborhoods of single-family units. This was an important junction as the east side connected to the highways going North to Nova Urbi and going South to Nova Summus. Together with Nova Terra, these were the three biggest cities on the continent of Antarticum.

With the growing expansion of the city limits, they were also extending the highway running West to East. Free standing overpasses, not yet connected to anything, stood like humongous white gates. We parked under one of those. Yuki and Fiori had a quick discussion and it was decided that we would get out of the car and see if it was at all possible to climb to the top of it.

Construction was halted. It was the weekend, not a car was in sight. We walked around the footings until we were able to locate a temporary steel bar ladder. Without hesitation, Yuki started to climb, Eli eagerly followed. As neither Meyer nor I moved, Fiori gave us a gentle push.

I went first, hesitant with every step. It wasn’t the climb so much that worried me, I was afraid someone might spot us. I was afraid to get caught. Surely this couldn’t be legal. I think Meyer felt the same way, but he had no choice either and was coming right behind me. Fiori was last.

I stood at the top and had to catch my balance, as the wind was much stronger up there. We were about four floors up and the view was breathtaking. Behind us, rows of half-built houses barely visible in the dark. In front of us, brightly lit streets of perfectly aligned, little white houses, leading to the central administrative building. The design made it look like a star. Meyer who stood next to me explained: “The layout of the city was modelled on the Paris arrondissement system.”

“Paris? What’s that?”

“It was the name of a city. The capital of France. The city of lights they use to call it.”

“Use to?” I asked perplexed.

“As a vast portion of coastal Europe flooded, millions of people migrated in land. But, between the rising temperature, the lack of food and the political unsettling, the city officially fell 75 years After-the-Tilt. Not much is left now of what was once a vibrant cultural and historical hotspot. Ruins littering a scorched landscape. That’s what the last satellite pictures showed me.”

As Meyer walked away, exploring the structure, I wondered, how many cities had fallen like that? I wondered, how long until history repeated itself? How long until Nova Terra falls?

Yuki and Fiori were having a discussion, pointing at various landmarks. Fiori pulled a map out of his backpack and was comparing it to the layout of the city. I saw him pencil in the new subdivision too.

Eli came and stood by my side. She was contemplating the beautiful sight before us. It was some time before she talked, but eventually she said: “I love the feel of the wind in my hair. Sometimes, I wish I could be a bird and spend my days flying. Even standing on the edge, right here, I look down, and I am not afraid.”

I hadn’t looked straight down yet, so I risked a quick glance. The overpass was as high as the hotel roof top, but unlike the rooftop, here we stood on precarious beams with no guardrails. One wrong step and we’d plunge to our death.

She seemed excited by that.

I wasn’t.

I was relieved when Fiori finally announced it was time to go back. Him and Yuki were done updating their map. I didn’t need a push this time. I was first to reach the ladder. Meyer was right on my tail. Yuki came after us.

Eli and Fiori lingered at the top. I couldn’t see them.

We waited.

Yuki got impatient, they kept looking at their watch.

They were about to go back up to check on them, when Eli finally appeared over the edge and started her descent.

But, midway down the ladder, about two stories up, she suddenly lost her footing and went backward into a fall.

Fiori had just appeared at the top of the ladder, there was nothing he could do.

Meyer and I watched horrified, as she plunged toward the pavement.

It all happened so fast. Just as she was about to hit the ground, Yuki launched themselves forward and was able to break Eli’s fall.

Both of their bodies lay still; tangled together in a heap on the ground.

Meyer gasped.

Fiori came rushing down the ladder.

I should have been worried for Eli, but all I could think about was, why hadn’t she screamed? It’s a reflex. Most people, when they fall, scream. But Eli had stayed quiet. Furthermore, with her agility and strength, it was hard to believe she had lost her footing so easily.

Fiori helped Yuki up. Obviously relieved to see his old friend unscathed. Yuki brushed themselves off, visibly shaken and irritated.

Eli, completely unaffected, had a very pensive look on her face as she laid on the ground.

“Are you ok?” Fiori asked with a concerned voice. “What happened?”

Eli looked up at the sky and absentmindedly said: “I guess I’ll never know what it feels like to fly.”

A shooting star raced across the sky.

I watched it as it disappeared over the horizon.

What is it about birds, I wondered, freedom? Maybe. But for the canary in a golden cage there is no such thing as freedom.

I thought about piano girl: my yellow bird. Her pain was real. It was as real to me as my own. Her wings broken; would she ever obtain freedom? If only I could help her be free. If only I could set her free. But was she even real, or just a figment of my imagination?

Then I remembered Eli. I couldn’t believe she had deliberately let go of the ladder.

I looked around.

Fiori had a shocked expression.

Yuki’s face was more one of disbelief.

Meyer looked angry. He’s the one who brutally brought her back to reality: “You know, we care if you live or die. You just can’t pull stupid stunts like that on a whim; relying on your characteristics to save you. Even they have limits you know. You are not invincible.”

She didn’t flinch as Meyer scolded her. Instead her eyes hardened. She walked back to the car and let herself in.

“What’s up with her?” Meyer asked, puzzled. “Is that a girl thing?”

Yuki raised an eye at his comment.

I nudged Meyer on the head: “Leave her alone,” I said.

I don’t know why I was defending her, but somehow, I felt like there had to be something more to it. Something deeper. And it was best to let it be, for now.

Fiori remained silent. It wasn’t like him. It wasn’t like him at all.

“We better get going,” Yuki pressed. “We need to be back before the curfew.”

It was the first time I was hearing about a curfew. I guess it made sense. This was, after all, just another way for the government to control the population. We all got back to the car and headed for the central administrative building. Eli was sulking by the window. Yuki and Fiori were once more engaged in a lively discussion, arguing over the best flavor of ice cream. Meyer was snoozing on my shoulder. I was trying to take in as many of the sights as I could. Longing for the day I could freely stroll down these streets like any Melior.

We got home without any incident just in time for the curfew. It was already well passed dinner, but some food had been kept for us. Meyer didn’t bother eating and went straight to bed. Fiori and Yuki grabbed their plates and headed to a meeting with Hana. I was left alone with a visibly bothered Eli, so I quickly grabbed my plate and headed for my room.

Eli stopped me: “Wait. Don’t go!”

I turned around. It had been a very long day. As much as I liked Eli, I was eager to finally go to bed. I smiled at her awkwardly, balancing my plate on one hand, a cup of water in the other and holding the door open with one foot.

“Let’s have dinner together,” she said.

She was my friend.

So, I obliged.

We both sat down in the far corner of the room. No one else was there. I ate, as I waited for her to talk. The girl who was always hungry was playing with her food. I cleared my throat and gently said to her: “You asked me to stay, but you are completely ignoring me Eli. What happened today? You let go of that ladder, didn’t you? But why?”

She played with her food a little while longer before letting out a long sigh of weariness.

“I wasn’t trying to kill myself. I wasn’t relying on my characteristics either. Meyer wouldn’t understand. I don’t think anyone would understand… except you. Maybe you do. I think you do. I felt it when you were practicing on me. That surge of power. The feeling of wanting more. The loss of control. You’ve felt all these emotions while using your characteristics. Or maybe I’m wrong. Maybe it’s all in my head.”

She now had my full attention. What she was saying, what she was describing; she was right.

She went on: “Today was exhilarating for so many reasons. It was my first real taste of freedom. And I wanted so much more. When we climbed the overpass, that feeling consumed me entirely. Standing on top of that structure, feeling the wind in my hair, looking down and seeing how far I had climbed, just made me feel so strong. I didn’t want to go back down. Fiori had to threaten me because I wasn’t moving.”

She giggled as she mentioned him, stretching her neck back.

“So, I went! But as I reached the halfway point of the ladder, my body acted on its own. It didn’t scare me. Letting go was so freeing. It was like staring death in the face and laughing out loud. I remember extending my arms out and feeling so good, so powerful, so fearless.”

She paused and played with her food some more.

“I feel sorry for Yuki. I will go apologize first thing in the morning. I’m also sorry I scared all of you. I guess my characteristics can be crazy like that. But I liked it! And for that, I’m not sorry. I liked it so much!”

She let out another long sigh that sounded almost like a moan. It was deep. It was painful. It came from the bottom of her soul.

“I can’t promise I won’t do something stupid like that again. Tell me,” she said looking straight into my eyes. “When you were practicing on me, you enjoyed killing me didn’t you? You enjoyed killing, am I right?”

I swallowed hard. It wasn’t like that. But I didn’t know how to explain it. I was trying to come up with a coherent answer. I was trying to come up with any answer. But before I could she whispered: “It’s ok. It’s ok if you liked it. It doesn’t make it right. But it’s ok. It’s part of who we are. Let’s embrace it!”

I was stunned. What she said made so much sense. But part of me still refused to accept it. “What if you are wrong? What if we aren’t supposed to accept it? What if we are supposed to suppress our urges? Killing is not ok! Jumping off a building is not ok! That surge of power we feel, only makes us do bad things. Maybe Meliors are right. Maybe we are a danger to society. Maybe we are better off in an orphanage under heavy surveillance. Eli, this is NOT natural! This is not how humanity should have evolved. We are engineered people. We were given powerful characteristics with no proper knowledge as to the extent of our capabilities. We are dangerous weapons. Just look at us, Eli!”

“You’ve been brainwashed,” she coldly replied.

“So, what if I have been brainwashed! It doesn’t make me wrong! You heard Fiori’s story. We are NOT humans. We are some sort of bi product of humanity. We shouldn’t even exist. WE are a mistake Eli! We should just be thankful and keep low…”

She dropped her food on her plate, visibly upset. She stood up without taking her eyes off me and left while muttering, “We shall not be seen; we shall not be heard. But we are to be thankful for the life we were so graciously granted.”

I slammed my head on the table

Great, I thought, now she’s mad at me… again.

I got up, put both our plates away, cleaned up and finally headed to bed. I was glad this day was done. I needed a rest.