Wake me up in 2395

Chapter 3: Beyond the Wall

Chapter 3: Beyond the Wall

I was restless and I couldn’t sleep. All of my thoughts were keeping me wide awake. Sobrang dami ko ring iniisip sa mga sandaling ito, dahil dito ay tila naguguluhan na rin ako. Hindi pa rin buong-buo na pumasok sa aking kalooban na iba na ang mundo sa mundong kinagisnan ko. It was still the same world, yes, but it was the world from the future—or I guess this is the present now. It made me sigh. I closed my eyes and tried to recollect whatever the things that are playing in my head, to at least organize them.

Ang unang naisip ko rin kung bakit hindi ako makatulog ay siguro dahil 375 taon akong tulog. But that wasn’t it. Akala ko ay tanggap ko nang namulat muli ang aking mga mata sa isang bagong mundo. But actually, I still haven’t accepted the fact that this is a new world where I live in. Everything is still processing in my mind. Sino nga ba naman ang makakatanggap nitong katotohanang ito? Yesterday only seemed like the year 2020... But now, I am in year 2395. I was hibernating for so long, at hindi pa siguro ako magigising kung hindi ginalaw ni Ingrid ang time capsule.

“You can’t sleep, Ate Prim?” Nagulat ako nang marinig ko ang mahinang tinig ni Ingrid na nakaupo sa dulo ng aking kama. Nakatingin lang siya sa akin. Her sapphire eyes seem to glow as the room was enveloped with darkness. No... her eyes were actually glowing. She really was a robot. Hindi lang masyadong nahahalata lalo kapag maaliwalas ang paligid. But in the dark, her eyes will tell otherwise.

Somehow, the transparent windows that overlooked the city were designed to transition to black or anything that you want basing on your command—it can also showcase landscapes if you request it or so, like a big television screen. I prompted it to go black a few hours ago after I had enough with the city’s view so that the lights that were coming from outside wouldn’t breach.

“I can’t.” Sagot ko naman kay Ingrid. “How about you?”

“Robots don’t sleep. Katatapos ko lang din ma-recharge kanina, Ate Prim.” Ngumiti siya sa akin. She looked real and surreal at the same time—as she was able to express emotions, like of an actual human being. I guess data was encrypted to her system to make it seem more natural and such, and I take a guess that this is the work of Lag, who modified her and Tiara. The world today is like this for me. Everything happened in a blur and while it was happening, I was trapped in time. Parang kahapon lang noong tinraydor ako ni Astaroth. Though he is gone, I will condemn him for the rest of my time. It is his fault why I am here right now as well, and why I could not prevent whatever it is that is happening right now.

“Binigyan pala ako ni Master Lucius ng kautusan na dapat laging nasa tabi mo ako. I am your new bodyguard.” Anunsyo niya.

“Really? A kid like you will guard me?”

“Don’t underestimate me because of how I look, Ate Prim!” Ngumisi si Ingrid at tumayo. Kasabay nito’y nabuhay ang mga ilaw na tila naramdaman ang kaunting paggalaw sa paligid. The lights were dim blue and they were enough to illuminate the two of us. “Mukha lang akong bata, pero isa pa rin akong robot. Master Lucius upgraded my system along with Tiara’s to give us functions not only limited of being housekeepers, but guards as well. That means you are safe for as long as I am there.”

“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.”

“Well, that’s normal. Given the fact that the Empress they are trying to win over is trying to win over another man’s heart.” It is human nature. Men are angry or envious at men they can never be. Mas nagtaka tuloy ako sa mga personal na katangian ni Lag. Perhaps, he really is a good man? If so, Astaroth can learn from him... that is if he was still alive, though. As Astaroth is already buried six feet under the ground, along with the persons I used to know when it was still 2020.

Tuluyan na akong bumangon sa kama. “Transparent windows.” I commanded. Tila narinig naman ako ng sistema ng bahay at biglang nawala ang kulay ng mga nagsisilakihang mga bintana ng aking kuwarto. Bumungad agad sa akin ang Ancora City. It was already dusk and I can see the fake sun that was rising into the dome of the fake sky. Everything was nothing but a copy of the truth, but they still looked so aesthetic and genuine and they looked more beautiful than the real ones I know of. I sighed as I remember the childhood movie that is also my favorite, it was The Lorax, where a twelve-year-old child named Ted lives in a place virtually devoid of nature, there were no flowers or trees that grow in the town of Thneedville, which is his home. It was depressing, and at the same time, it was inspiring and motivating... This is the reason why I became an environmental scientist, because I wanted to protect nature and the world from humankind. We were the parasites of the world. We were crowned by God as the protector of His beautiful wonders and creations as well, however, we did the opposite.

Naglakad ako papunta sa malalaking bintana at pinagmasdan ang kalawakan. Tinitigan ko ang mga matatayog na pader na pumapalibot sa buong siyudad, “I wonder what lies beyond the walls though.” I sighed as I tried to imagine whatever it is that could be possibly seen outside the city.

“Wastelands, diseases, virus, bacteria, radiation, pollution, dead bodies, and death.” Agad na sagod ni Ingrid. “I heard that your hibernation started at year 2020, Ate Prim.”

I nodded.

“At the exact year, a pandemic has struck the world, it is called Corona Virus Disease, or the CoViD-19, and it has killed millions of people and it created as well the new normal culture. The disease constantly evolved into various variants, which frustrated scientists and pharmaceutical companies, even governments... It lasted for several decades. The virus originated in Wuhan, China, and according to my resources...” It seems like she is scanning something inside her as her eyes were reflecting data that she was processing, “conspiracy theories state that this virus is a man-made virus from a laboratory in China, in order for China to take over the economy that the United States is leading... But of course, this is just a conspiracy theory, and there is not enough data to prove such claims.”

Her words made me think now that I am in this position of thinking everything over again...

They say we, humans, are the smartest ones to ever walk the Earth. But then, if we truly were, why did we cause its own destruction?

“Have you ever been outside?” I asked. “I mean, outside the walls... Since you claim that it is a wasteland.”

Natigilan siya nang bahagya at saka umiling.

“Then, you really do not know what lies beyond the walls, so you can never be so sure that the world outside is what they say it is. Who told us anyway that those are the things that truly awaits us if we go outside of the city’s wall?”

“The Imperium.” Ingrid answered.

“And they probably told us those so that we will not crave to see what is out there. They told us that lie to keep us away from wanting to go beyond the walls, so that we would be fine to just be confined within these walls like birds trapped in a cage, oblivious of the truth that there is more than what it seems. Are you not curious? Don’t you want to see the real sky? Or the vast oceans? Don’t you want to explore the real world? Do not believe everything that those who are powerful say to you, sometimes—it is only for their own self-interest that they do and say things. I learned this the hard way.”

Hindi nakaimik si Ingrid dahil sa aking mga sinabi. I guess I might be introducing new ideas into her system and she is currently processing those things. I just smiled and held her hand. Her skin was soft—but there was no warmth, only a cold sensation. She really is a robot.

“I want to.” Aniya matapos ang ilang sandali. “But we are not allowed to go beyond the walls without authorization. It is a grave crime punishable by death. It is the law of Imperium.”

“You say that we are not allowed without authorization?” Ngumisi ako. Tila nagtaka naman si Ingrid dahil sa aking inasta, “then let’s secure that authorization first—we both know someone who can.”

“Master Lucius.” Sagot ni Ingrid.

“Indeed.” I chuckled, “and I shall ask for it at the right time.”