Wake me up in 2395

Chapter 33: A Zombie Apocalypse Right Outside the Wall

Chapter 33: A Zombie Apocalypse Right Outside the Wall

You are now an official member of the ROSE Society.

These words were there, and they were glowing in the hologram that only I can see. After a few seconds, it seems like a glitch has found its way unto my M-ring and the message started to be distorted and go obscure, until the message was finally gone, as if it was never there in the first place.

I am no longer a recruit of the ROSE Society—I was already an official member. Somehow, the thought that I made it by just simply exposing Chun Lee and Delilah made it all easier. I thought the initiation would be harder, but I guess I was wrong to assume such thing.

“Why are you smiling?” Tanong ni Lag dahilan upang mapawi ang ngiting nakaukit sa aking labi. Bahagya akong tumingin sa kaniya at saka siya tinaasan ng kilay.

“Masama bang ngumiti ako?” I scowled.

“No, you look like a witch with that kind of wicked smile that you have,” he said, as if it was a matter-of-fact. Mas lalo akong sumimangot sa kaniya and he playfully raised both his hands in defense, as if he was surrendering. “It’s a joke.”

“It’s not funny.” Seryosong saad ko, pero sa totoo lang ay natatawa na ako sa kaloob-looban ko dahil sa kaniyang naging reaksyon.

“Why would you expose Chun Lee and that girl he is with—what’s the name again? Delicadesa?”

“Delilah.” Pagtatama ko.

“Ah, yes, Delilah... Why would you do such thing, and smile? As if you are happy about it...” Tanong ni Lag, halatang naguguluhan na rin ito. “I thought you will join the ROSE Society? Why act loyal to the Union now?” He asked. Sa gitna ng katahimikan, mabuti na lang at nakatuon ang atensyon ng lahat sa mga Imperial Knights, who were already retreating from the Arena. “You don’t make sense at all.” He decided, after a few seconds of silence and contemplation.

I rolled my eyes, “it does not have to make sense—you are just asking the wrong and absurd question, Lag.”

Matapos ang ilang sandali, tila na-realize na nito ang nangyayari kaya naman tumingin siya sa akin ng seryoso, “don’t tell me... That was the initiation?” He asked.

I nodded.

“Oh... It’s like hitting two birds with one stone—the Imperium Union will decide to trust and put their faith in you, giving you more access, as it already happened when the founder decided to give you a place in this city-ship, and it will also mean becoming an official member of the ROSE Society. What a cunning initiation that is—the ROSE Society finally has someone who will personally spy on the Union and be able to get away with it.”

“Yes... Now, Lag, which side are you picking?” I asked. “Or should I use one of my wish and finally wish that you also join us and become a part of the cause, of the movement?”

Hindi umimik si Lag, it was as if he was reconsidering things from a different point of view and perspective. He looked at me after, his eyes were now serious—and they were looking very deadly. “I won’t change my stand, Prim, I will not choose a side—I will remain neutral, not until you find a concrete reason why I should betray the Union.”

“Alright, just wait.” I smiled at Lag. “I will show you, and I will expose whatever dark secret it is that the Union is holding.”

The lights of the Arena started to go dimmer, and a golden spotlight started to hit the iron throne where Empress Wynzelle Astarria resides, her platinum-blonde hair started to glow, and her golden eyes became more prominent with those yellow-lit light that made her the center of attraction. Mula sa kaniyang trono ay tumayo siya at naglakad siya papunta sa pinakagitna mismo ng entablado. Matapos ang ilang sandali ay nagsalita ito.

“It is quite disappointing that one of the mayors that I have appointed personally is a traitor to the Union, and the fact that he managed to get away with it.” Bahagyang kumuyom ang kamao ng Empress dahil dito, “by all means, I personally want to see the execution of Chun Lee, and through the power that is vested in me as Empress Wynzelle Astarria, the leader of the Five Districts, Protector of the Imperials, Royal and Blue-blood, The Most Powerful Being of this Era, I hereby he strip the traitorous Chun Lee, of all rights and power... And if he is caught, he shall be dealt accordingly with death by hanging.”

Ang kaniyang mga salita ay umalingawngaw sa buong paligid, and I know it was being broadcasted already among the entire five districts. Everyone is for sure, watching. This public event of the foundation week of the Union has turned out to be different and I know it soon shall become the talk among the cities, and many people will be motivated as well to come out from their shell, and join the movement that will aim to topple down the Imperium Government who controls the Union.

Now that I am personally looking at the Empress, it felt like she was a completely different person. She was cold-blooded, and she does not give any reluctance at all when she decided to have the life of someone to be taken away.

But I know Chun and Delilah are here somewhere, covered in this cloak of invisibility that Marco has invented. And I know both of them are listening well to the declarations of the Empress. Hindi ko lang alam kung saang parte sila, pero nandito sila. They did not teleport at all, they just became invisible.

I closed my eyes and a memory of my talk with Ingrid emerged out of nowhere, because of the fact that I have deemed the Empress to be cold-blooded. She was right when she stated it.

“Now that you have mentioned, tell me things about Lag.” This is just to kill time. Since from now on, we will have to deal with each other. I had to know who and what he is. Though he seemed trust-worthy, I still cannot erase this traumatizing feeling of trusting someone too easily, especially he is also the direct descendant of Astaroth, that traitorous bastard. Naging malapit na ang loob ko kay Lag sa ilang oras na magkasama pa lang kami... And that idea terrifies me as well. Bakit ang bilis ko kasing magtiwala? Kaya natatraydor ako. I should learn my lesson already and let my experiences reflect all the decisions I must make from now onward.

“Lag?” Ulit ni Ingrid.

Oh, right. “Lag—ang Master Lucius ninyo. I used the first alphabets of his names—Lucius Arturius Ghani. That formed Lag. It is more convenient for me.”

Tumango naman si Ingrid at tila naproseso ang impormasyon na aking binigay. She was quick to catch things up and she knew how to read the mood. She can also have facial expressions. If you are not looking closely or if you do not know she is a robot, you will truly think she is a human too. This is the new technology that people during my time aspired as well, but there were also people who feared the idea because whatever they may be trying to build will also turn their back against them, and it happened. Their fear occurred, and World War IV occured, a war between man and robots. Speaking of, I wonder what could have been the World War III is?

“Master Lucius is Ancora City’s Mayor, which is something you already know. He was personally appointed by Empress Wynzelle Astarria of Imperium, five years ago, as a gift.”

“A gift? He became a mayor as a gift from the Empress?” Kumunot ang aking noo.

“Indeed. As you already know, the five countries—Uno, Duo, Tre, Qua, and Cin all fall under the umbrella of Imperium, an authoritarian government. The word of the Empress is the law of the whole world that is why everyone does their best to get into her favor. The cities that the Empress like the most are usually the richest as well, as more resources are distributed there. That is why everyone does their best to impress her and be on her good side...”

“And Lag successfully went into her favor?”

Umiling si Ingrid. “No. Empress Astarria is actually in love with Master Lucius and it is her trying to get into his favor, though they only met thrice. The first was when they were both kids. I heard that Master Lucius saved the empress from a malfunctioning robot, the second time they met was at the Imperium Ball, an annual celebration for the creation of Imperium Union that has brought peace and order to the world... When the Crown was then passed to Empress Astarria as she is the sole heiress to Imperium, she immediately appointed Master Lucius as Ancora City’s Mayor. It is very strategic, of course, as whenever there are Imperium Assemblies, Master Lucius will be summoned to Imperium Capital and Empress Astarria will be able to meet him again.”

“Sounds like a hopeless romantic.” I snickered. “So, Empress Astarria is a fool for love.”

Nagkibit-balikat na lang si Ingrid bilang sagot. “Pero hindi natin siya masisisi, makisig at guwapo rin kasi si Master Lucius, aminin mo man o hindi.” Tumawa si Ingrid at pinaglaruan pa nito ang kaniyang mga daliri. Kunti na lang talaga pagkakamalan ko na itong batang ito na totoong tao. How can she be like this? Back then in my time, you can immediately tell whether it is a robot or not basing on how they talk, as it was monotone somehow, however, Ingrid talks like an actual human, and she behaves like the age of the body she is given too.

Umiling na lang ako. “If Empress Astarria loves Lag, then she can just take him by force, right? I mean, her word is the law of this world. She can just order Lag to do as she pleases, like marry her.”

“But Empress Astarria does not want that, it’d only be getting Master Lucius because she has said so, the Empress wants more. She wants Master Lucius to voluntarily submit himself to the Empress, to her... Which is why she is doing everything to please him, and that is also why there are several leaders around the world who are insecure and jealous of him. There are people trying to destroy him by doing research and investigations, but of course, Master Lucius is clean, and there is nothing that can ever tarnish his reputation, except me and Tiara, of course.”

I chuckled, right... Ingrid and Tiara are illegal robots that Lag built, their exposure will surely bring harm to Lag’s reputation, and I guess I am also included now... I am just an alien to this world. I am lucky enough that Lag is the kind of person who is generous and good.

“Anyway, why is it that Lag does not want to marry the Empress? Or does he? I mean, if he does, won’t he become the Emperor, then? He’ll take over the Empress... Does he not have that ambition in life?”

“That’s not how the political system works. The Crown is solely inherited by the eldest of the Astarria House and if it happens that the eldest is a woman, she becomes the Empress and the man she will marry will become the Emperor, but since the Emperor is not of Astarria bloodline, the sovereignty will still remain to the Empress. The Emperor will just serve as the man who will produce the next generation of the Astarria House, and the same case shall happen as well if the eldest of the Astarria House is a man. s*x and gender are not really put into consideration, there is no longer matriarchy or patriarchy, the political system now, and society in general, gives more privilege to the eldest son or daughter, and for the nobles, they are only allowed to have three children, and the middle and lower class can only have one... This is to control population, as there is limited resources... Which is why in-vitro fertilization is also generally practiced in this world especially among the nobles, as this will ensure that they produce intelligent and beautiful children, while those in the middle and lower class engage in the act of s****l i*********e, the natural action for procreation.”

Tumango na lang ako dahil sa aking nalaman. This is very new to me... So, this new government is neither just patriarchal nor matriarchal, but of mixed. There is no regard to gender, as long as you are of the Astarria line... And the benefits are usually given to the eldest. This is interesting.

“So, since we are talking of the Empress of Imperium, tell me things about her.”

“Beautiful, cold-blooded, and gifted.” Simpleng sagot ni Ingrid sa akin. “If you meet her, you will be mesmerized! Ever since she was crowned, the Imperium Union became more united, as most of the leaders were commonly men and they wanted her hand and to please her. So, they would do anything to impress her. She is like the goddess of beauty reincarnated... But nothing much impresses her except Master Lucius, which is why there are many elites who are envious of Master Lucius, as I have stated previously.”

There is no doubt about it, now that I am looking at the Empress... I guess she has no choice to, or I guess it runs deep in their blood and veins—in what I have read about the historical records since the Imperium Union has been founded two hundred years ago, all empresses and emperors who sat on the iron throne were cold-blooded and they had no second thoughts about ordering the death of someone who has betrayed the Union that they are governing.

“The same shall apply to the woman that Chun Lee is with,” the Empress declared, bringing me back to reality. Matapos ang ilang sandali ay bumuntong-hininga ito, as if she had enough of this farce already. “We shall commence with the program, and I shall give my closing remarks now.” Aniya matapos ang ilang sandali.

Oh, the event is about to end now... And soon, Lag and I will finally travel back home to his Mansion in Ancora City. I was somehow excited of this since I will be able to investigate the truth behind the fact that I am already here, living in 2395. I needed clues too, whether it is true that I hibernated or travelled through time.

Anyway, the only concrete explanation right now is that perhaps I really hibernated and not time travelled, and that it was Astaroth who time travelled... Does that mean to say that Astaroth is alive? And that he is also here? Now that I think of it, it was a possibility.

“I am very glad that all districts have come once more in order to join the Government in celebration of the Bicentennial Foundation Week of the Imperium Union. There were many unprecedented events, commotions, and chaos, however, it shall not become a hindrance for us. As the Empress, it is my duty to keep the pillars of the Union to be stable, as if there is a disruption, there will be rippling effects, including chaos and war. And I have to prevent it from ever happening—”

The broadcast was interrupted.

Matapos ang ilang sandali ay biglang naging blanko ang mga holograms na nagpapakita ng mukha ng Empress. It was as if somebody hacked through the system, I remember the day again when the Capitol was bombed, and the screens across the entire city started transmitting a message from this woman from the ROSE Society, I believe that woman is the leader of the Society...

“I am Reina Farley Keanus, and I am the leader of the ROSE Society. I know that the foundation week of the Imperium Union is currently being broadcasted live across the entire districts, that means that there will be no edits and filter in whatsoever that is occurring. This is to declare that the Union is lying to you, that the peace and harmony that they are so proud of is only artificial, the real peace and harmony does that come with the cost of your liberty and humanity, but the Union wants to take control of it all.” She announced, and somehow, I agree. “The truth about what lies beyond the walls is also something that they are afraid of the public to know...”

The voice of Reina was somehow distorted and it was only her silhouette that was being seen through the broadcast, but still, her words left everyone in the room to be silent, waiting for whatever it is that she is going to say next.

“The broadcast I made a few days ago when the Capitol was bombed was somehow interrupted, and I stopped midway when I said that there are more of us beyond the wall. It is true, the outside world is livable, however, the Union has treated us, the ‘Outsiders’, as contagious disease that needs to be wiped off the face of the planet. They hunt us day and night, and all we can ever do is hide and cower in fear... But we have gradually increased our power, and now, it is also time for us to strike back and hunt the hunters.” While Reina was speaking, the holograms shifted towards videos of Imperial Knights who were killing children and people outside the wall. Alam ko na agad na sa labas ito ng malalaking pader dahil bitak-bitak ang mga gusali at may mga sirang mga sasakyan na alam kong galing pa sa taon kung nasaan ako talaga dapat.

“But that is not all, the Union hides a deep secret that will surely ruin them once it is exposed, and that is the fact that they are the ones who caused this madness to the world when they used a virus called Immortalix-002 which is a virus and a deadly disease that kills whoever is infected, and brings them back to life, but as mindless and flesh-eating creatures, in horror films, they are what you call the zombies.”

“The founder, Warez Astarria, wanted to be immortal which is why he used the components of this virus, which is why he had a scientist perform a human experimentation. Many lives were taken in the process, but these lives that were taken were brought back to life by the disease, and as it is contagious, one scratch or bite is enough to also make you one of them. An accident occurred in the laboratory where the experimentation was performed, and while it proved to be successful to the Founder, the Scientist behind it was bit and he turned into one, and you know about the rest as history. The Founder’s desire to remain immortal has caused the downfall of mankind, and two hundred years ago, he decided to build walls that were very high, in order to hide the truth from us. From you.”

Kasabay nito ay may mga videos na muling pinapakita sa screen—zombies. They were walking aimlessly, with no sense of direction, and most of them were covered in blood, and their flesh was somehow rotting now. I gulped the lump in my throat, and I felt my own heart start to go fast. I did not expect this at all... This is the secret that the Union is hiding from us, and now, it has been exposed.

A zombie apocalypse.

“The ROSE Society aims to finally bring justice... And to topple down this Union that has caused us destruction. There are many people outside the walls who are in constant fear, of the Union and the zombies, but this fear has kept us awake, and it made us stronger. It is also time for us to make a place for ourselves inside the walls.”

And with that, the broadcast ended, having everyone in the room in a state of disarray.

I looked at Lag, and it seems like something has changed in him. There was this conviction now that lies in his eyes, and he looked at me after, with those serious eyes of his.

“I am joining too.” He declared, finally finding the reason to betray the Union.