Wake me up in 2395

Chapter 23: The Fifth Day, Before the Exhibition of Innovations & Inventions

Chapter 23: The Fifth Day, Before the Exhibition of Innovations & Inventions

Nakita ko ang pagtayo ni Empress Wynzelle mula sa kaniyang trono at saka siya naglakad papunta sa elevated na plataporma sa kaniyang harap. There were drones scattered around which also flocked to her like insects and these drones took a live footage which was being broadcasted not only across the hologram screens of the arena, but also around the five districts. I know a lot of people are watching the events today, well, everyone looked forward to the foundation week celebration every year because this is probably just one of the few changes annually. Everyone is bored with their life, especially with the elites and the nobles.

Isipin mo na rin ang katotohanan na hindi na kailangan pang magtrabaho ng mga tao ngayon dahil may binibigay na suporta ang gobyerno. Hindi na uso ito ngayon. Everyone is idle and lux. Even the middle class are living a somewhat privileged life too... But of course, at the expense of it all is their freedom and the forceful ‘loyalty’ that they must strictly offer to the Union. Those who deviate from the social norms and standards, and their enacted laws and decrees, are thrown away like trash.

Tumahimik na ang buong paligid, at nagsalita na ang Empress.

“Before I start, I know that my dear people, my Imperials, are all wary and anxious because of what happened yesterday at the Capitol. Thankfully, a miracle has happened and there were no people who died, but there were a few people who got injured by the debris caused by the falling building. These people, however, were treated right away and they are also currently undergoing mental counselling, just in case. To be sure that they are free of mental trauma.”

“This has never happened in the 200 years of the Union, a terrorist attack like this is an act of a coward who wants to strike fear unto us, to shake the very pillars of our Union, but we will not give them what they want. This organization called ROSE Society, or whatever it is, shall be obliterated by my command. I promise you all, we will find these terrorists and give them the justice that they deserve.” She continued, her voice echoed across the arena and it was amplified as well, making the vibrations somehow enter through me as well.

Big words for an Empress—but somehow, her words made the crowd cheer. They were happy because of her speech. Somehow, it boosted their morale.

“Worry not, we have tightened our security tenfold too, and we are currently investigating in order to try and pinpoint the ones behind the bombing incident. In line with this, I shall also address the broadcasted message of the enemy yesterday—those are all false claims. They have declared that there are more of them outside the wall, but the outside world is not livable. Do not believe whatever nonsense that the enemy is telling you, and listen to me, my dear Imperials. As for you, rebels who call your organization as the ROSE Society, you started this—and you shall end with it too.”

Biglang humiyaw at nagpalakpakan ang mga tao, ako naman ay tahimik lang at walang kibo sa aking puwesto. Even Mayor Marina and Mayor Elizabeth were clapping, samantalang si Cassandra naman ay nakayuko lang at si Lag naman ay nakakunot lang ang noo. I do not really know what this man is thinking of, if only there is a device that will let me read minds, then I guess I will not be so clueless what is going on inside his head.

I looked at Chun and Delilah who were at 1-division of the arena, and like the rest of the crowd, they acted innocent and they were cheering too. I can see that despite the distance between us because of the way they moved, and their facial expression too. No one will suspect them if they keep this act up, and I am sure that there are more of them at the city-ship too. Hindi ko lang alam kung sino pa ang ibang miyembro ngayon ng ROSE Society na nandito, pero malakas ang kutob ko na nandito lang sila at nakaaligid.

“Now, we shall proceed to the main event for today.” Empress Wynzelle said after a few seconds, making the noisy crowd to go silent once more, as if they were already done cheering the mantra of the Union, dum vivet Imperium which in English means ‘long live, Imperium’. Kasabay ng pagdeklara ng Empress nito ay biglang nagbago ang itsura ng gitna ng arena, it was as if a hole started to appear out of nowhere as the ground started to shake and mechanically move, revealing an empty basement from within, and the ground from the basement gradually ascended as well, like an elevator. The transformation and shifting was quite noisy, with all the mechanical movements and sounds. Then as the ground gradually rose, it revealed different inventions along with the inventors standing right before them.

“Ladies and gentlemen, my dearest Capitans, Unons, Duons, Trens, Quans, Cinns—welcome to the exhibition of innovations and inventions. It is my pleasure to start this event with a speech in order to motivate everyone. Every year, there are inventions created which proved to have great benefit for the Union, and those behind these innovations are rewarded generously. To those who were picked for this year, they shall also be awarded respectively... I am very much excited to see whatever inventions it is before me. Let this glorious day push through!”

And with that, everyone clapped.

Ako naman ay tahimik lang at nanood. Napansin kong lumabas si Chun mula sa isang entrada papunta sa gitna ng arena, tumigil siya matapos ang ilang sandali sa harap ng isang makina. There were other machines too, at nakahilera rin ang lahat ng ito sa arena. It was somewhat familiar... My eyes widened when I finally know where I saw it—at the first day, during the Imperium Forum, this machine is the L-Machine... It is the quantum teleportation machine.

I gasped—what is Chun planning to do?