Wake me up in 2395

Chapter 7: Codes to Decipher

Chapter 7: Codes to Decipher

Like what the Empress has announced on her invitation message, an aircraft was sent the next night and I already packed my things and was already prepared beforehand, the same is with Lag, of course. To be honest, there was not much packing needed since Lag told me that the Imperium Capital has also the same technology as of the wardrobe where I can just visualize any dress I want and it will weave it for me instantly. What I took, though, was of a pen and a journal—this is something I got from one of his collections, and I am glad that he let me have it, I guess because it is out of respect as these things used to be there from my time, in this world, pen and paper are no longer necessary as there is already a device that can store whatever it is that you want to write.

For Lag, it was pretty much old school as I can write whatever I want with the M-ring or device he gave me. However, I thought that it was the only way I can have my privacy in a place where it feels like the government has access to all data, regardless of confidentiality. This is the only private space that I will have... I still am not sure if they have access to all gadgets that people own, but I have a feeling that since this is a panopticon world as Lag has stated, then I am taking a wild guess that they do have access that is hidden and encrypted within the system.

Tiara and Ingrid were instructed to stay put in the mansion until we get back home again since their very existence is illegal. They were set in guard mode as well, which means that if security is breached in the mansion while we are away, they will be quick to respond, though that seems pretty impossible as the mansion is on top of a high-rise building and its security seems infallible.

I heard from Lag as well that it will take us a week to return again because of the many engagements which will happen in the Capital as it was the 200th Imperium Ball, Lag informed me that since it was a bicentennial celebration for the foundation of the Imperium Union, a lot of events shall occur and unlike the usual one-day celebration, the celebration for this year shall be 7-days long. This means I can gather and investigate more in the Imperium Capital, which is why I brought writing materials with me where I can just take down notes discreetly. I want to know whatever it is that the Imperium Government is hiding, from me. From us. My instincts are telling me that there is something wrong, and there is something hidden in plain sight. I just do not know what it is yet, but someday, I will be able to uncover the truth and expose them. I will not fail this time around like I did 375 years ago.

Tiningnan ko lamang ang aircraft na lumapag sa rooftop ng mansion ni Lag. Its mouth dropped mechanically into the marble floor, revealing the interior of the black plane with heavily tinted windows, I guess from inside you will never be able to see what lies outside, except for the pilots. The passengers will be completely oblivious of the outside, and I guess that is beneficial again for the government, as if people find out whatever it is that lies beyond the walls, then it will spark arguments and such especially if the things they were spouting were, indeed, and in fact, mere lies to help their own self-interest. May dalawang mga tauhan na nakasuot ng itim ang naroroon, they held a gun that looked like something which emits laser beams. Alam ko na agad na mga sundalo ang mga ito. They must be our escorts from the capital. They saluted upon seeing Lag and he just waved his hand to dismiss them.

We ascended to the aircraft with its mouth that appeared to be like a ramp. When we were finally inside, one of the soldiers pressed the button on the side, causing the aircraft’s entrance to close mechanically, the sound of the machine and screeching metal echoed as well.

“Mayor Ghani, we are the escorts whom the Capital has sent. May we know who is the woman with you?” Asked the other soldier.

“This is my adopted sister, Primrose Ghani.” As he stated that, he tapped his bracelet and a light was suddenly projected out of it, showcasing the registration and my citizenship with the name Primrose Ghani towards them, along with it was my picture which I never remember taking, I guess Lag simply took it from my biometrics that were embedded into the mansion’s system already. Partly, it felt weird to see a picture of yourself that was never taken in the first place... And it looked so real, as the picture of my face was moving animatedly. Damn. The technology of this era is too much and too advance, that sometimes—I find it scary.

Tumingin sa akin ang dalawang sundalo at yumuko bilang paggalang. I just nodded and looked around the vicinity. The interior was grand, the walls were decorated with moving pictures. The wall itself seemed like a screen too. But there were no windows—I guess the tinted windows outside the aircraft were just a facade and decorations to make it look better.

“Bakit walang bintana?” I asked Lag.

“Because we are not allowed to see what’s beyond the walls, unless we are granted, of course—and usually, the pilots of the hovercrafts that are of the Imperium Government have their memory wiped after an expedition right outside the walls. However, there are exemptions, like of my parents, who are explorer scientists... They are the only ones allowed to remember whatever it is that they have seen and investigated outside. The government justified that it is to make sure that people remain contented within the walls, rather than be curious as to what lies outside the walls. It was almost enacted into law too that curiosity about the world outside the walls will be considered a crime, but of course, Empress Wynzellia did not allow that in the parameter that it will just further spark the interest of the people, which is why this is the countermeasure that they have taken—erasure of specific memory.” Lag answered.

“What Mayor Ghani stated is the truth.” One of the soldiers added, both of them were confirming my initial thoughts already. I looked at the soldier, raised an eyebrow, and continued to interrogate.

“Why, though? That memories have to be wiped after seeing the outside world beyond these walls?”

“Because it is the rule of the Imperium Government.”

“So, no one has ever seen what’s beyond the walls and remembers it except for the explorer scientists?” I asked further.

“No one, except those who are exiled and as you said, the scientists who are tasked to explore it.” Said the other soldier.

Tumango lang ako. I thought it was my chance to finally see what’s beyond the walls as we will finally cross it. But I guess everything has been carefully planned by the government to ensure the confidentiality of whatever it is that is outside the walls, which is why we were instructed to travel at night too... They were very cautious and that in itself is already fishy. Mas lalo lang nakokompirma ang aking nasa isip na may tinatago talaga sila, at kung ano man iyon, I will do whatever it is that is in my power in order to uncover it. I will not let them get-away. Though I never met them, the things I learned are already enough for me to know that I shall never conform to their ways and how they do things. I will not and will never. In the name of those exiled and thrown outside the walls, I shall do what is within my power to expose them.

Umupo na lamang ako sa isang silya sa tabi at nagsimulang isulat ang lahat ng impormasyon na nakalap. Si Lag naman ay sinabihan ang dalawang sundalo na ayos na kami. They immediately went to the pilot’s room and I felt the aircraft to move afterward. Pagkatapos ay umupo rin siya sa tabing silya at pinanood lang ako sa aking ginagawa. He looked at me as if I was alien who was writing things down, rather than typing it to the M-ring that he gave which can also store information that I want.

“What are you doing, Prim?”

“Taking down notes.”

“I can see that...”

“Good.” I grinned.

“What for, though?” He added.

“There’s so much I do not know about this world which is why I have to do all means in order to familiarize with it, the changes, and everything else. I am currently experiencing Alvin Toffler’s idea of the death of permanence, whereas there is this concept of future shock. Just think of this as one of my coping mechanisms.” I smiled, even though it was just a half of the entire truth. I just want to uncover the secrets of the government and expose them if ever there truly is. Anyway, if there is one thing I trust, it is my instincts. If it were not for my accuracy, I would have not been able to conduct a research as well that predicted how the world will go if things before, in the year 2020, will continue as it is.

I mentally laughed at the thought. When it was 2020, I was also fighting against the government. 375 years later, I am still fighting it. Maybe because I feel obliged, because if not me—then who will? People in this era are afraid of the government and for as long as there is fear, they will yield. They are rendered powerless and they were raised to be very independent to the credits that the government is bestowing to them, the New Capitulum System is a system that surely keeps them in-check and in place. However, I am different. I do not want a fake peace and order that is governed through fear. I want a genuine one—in the earlier times of Karl Marx, I share his ideals too, about a world where there is peace and equality, but I know as a natural and social scientist myself, that it was impossible, that social stratification is very much needed for societies to remain in order. However, what I want to fix is the governing system... I do not know how, but I will get there someday. I commend the Imperium though, as they are able to hold the remaining nations together. I guess power plays a big factor here, and their control over what it is that shall happen.

“We’ll arrive at Imperium Capital in four hours.” Saad ng isa sa mga sundalo na sumilip mula sa pinto ng kanilang kuwadra. Pagkatapos ay sinara niya muli ito, leaving me with the company of Lag. It was just the two of us and there was a complete silence, tanging ang mahinang tunog ng makina na lang ang umaalingawngaw sa paligid.

“So, the sky of this city is fake, the city is covered in dome. How will we get out of it with this aircraft?” I asked Lag, though I had an initial idea already that we might truly go beyond the walls, I still am not sure if it was the case, baka sa isang underground tunnel kami maglalakbay, or something. Who knows? I still do not know how they do things here...

“You have seen what happened to the rooftop of my house.” Aniya. Tumango naman ako habang inaalala ang paggalaw ng kisame upang bigyan espasyo ang hovercar. Nanlaki ang aking mga mata nang mapagtanto ang mangyayari.

“So, the dome will temporarily open a part of itself, just good enough for the hovercraft to pass through, and give space to this plane. However, it shall shut instantly as well.” He explained.

“Ah, so lilipad tayo papunta sa labas ng walls, and we won’t go underground.”

“Indeed. However, it is only those who control the city who are authorized to open the dome and they are composed of people from the Imperium Government, respectively.”

“This means even though you are the mayor of this city, it is beyond your power?”

“Yes. Just think of me as a public figure that people in this city looks up to. They need someone to connect with them, someone who can make them feel at ease.” He paused for a few seconds and continued, “as a city mayor, my true function is to give information and news about the current state of events and other matters within Ancora City to Imperium Government. It is still the capital who governs the place, not me. I am just one of their eyes and mouth—like a spy, or whatever it is that you want.”

“An informant.” I whispered.

“Yes, if that’s what you term it.”

Bumuntong-hininga ako dahil sa aking nalaman at nagsimulang magsulat muli.

When I was done, I looked at Lag who seemed to be busy with his M-ring. A few seconds later, my ring glowed. I rotated it and the hologram that only I can see appeared.

One message from Lucius Arturius Ghani.

I looked at Lag who just stared and nodded at me, afterward, he reclined on the chair and closed his eyes. Alam ko na agad kung ano ang nais niyang sabihin sa akin. Through the silence and the stares that we shared at each other for brief moments, there is this connection that formed. He wanted me to read the message that he has sent me.

Curious, I opened his message.

Be yourself when I introduce you to friends but be

careful not to attract too much attention—

when you meet people I am acquainted,

we will have many events as well so

get ready and make sure to be well restored when we are

there. We will be given the whole night to rest.

The place is beautiful, so we will roam around the

Capital during our vacant time. The Museum

is the first place we will go to though and

not the Artificial Garden. Anyway, I swear to keep you

safe—as my first date and my little sister.

I frowned because of how his message was constructed—it was like a free-verse poem. Tumingin muli ako kay Lag pero parang mahimbing na siyang natutulog. What is his purpose for sending this message? He could have just told this to me personally.

Unless there is another reason...

I stared at the message once more while the timer above it indicating how long the message shall remain until it self-destructs keeps on going down like an hourglass with a dust flowing down. That is when it hit me...

Biglang bumilis ang pintig ng aking puso matapos ang ilang sandali. Then, I realized why he sent me this message. It was meant to be decoded and deciphered. I looked for clues, as my first date. First date. First words per line. And it happened that the first words per line were in bigger texts.

Trusting my instincts, binasa ko ang unang mga salita sa bawat linya ng kanyang mensahe.

Be careful when we get there. The Capital is not safe.

Pakiramdam ko ay bumilis ang pintig ng aking puso. Hindi ko alam, pero I was happy that he sent me this warning, it further boosts my esteem in him. He was a subject of Imperium, that is without a doubt, but he was not loyal to them, he was not submissive to them at all. Somehow, I started to see him in a different light.

I rotated the M-ring and started to type a message towards Lag as well.

I am pleased as your first date & little sister

Got excited as well after your plans for

The days of stay we have at the Capital

Message me still, stay connected

And don’t let me wander too much as

I might get lost in a place I do not know

Will be looking forward for the Ball and I’ll

Be dressed properly, I will be

Careful in selecting my dress as well

So that I will not bring shame upon

You and your name—so you

Must look forward as well and

Worry no more and

Not be tensed.

I sent the free-verse poem message to him and it seems like he has received it as well. This is how we communicate, huh? Through codes that only both of us can share... So that whenever it is that a system tries to track and scan conversations, they will never be able to uncover the secret conversation that Lag and I are sharing.

I got the message and I will be careful so you must worry not.

That is the message that I sent him, and I know he has been able to decipher it easily, as I only copied his style. Tumingin ako kay Lag at mukhang katatapos lang niyang basahin ang aking pinadalang mensahe.

After a few seconds, my M-ring glowed and I opened it, mula roon ay muling nagpakita ang sagot naman ni Lag na mensahe sa akin.

Let’s get some sleep and rest.

I chuckled, no more codes to decipher, I guess.

I replied.

Alright. Good night, Lag.

My M-ring glowed once more, and I read his reply.

Good night, Primrose.