Wake me up in 2395

Chapter 25: Parade of Superiority & Awarding of Excellence

Chapter 25: Parade of Superiority & Awarding of Excellence

I opened my eyes and looked at the glowing neon lights at the side of the room, at the marble floor lies Pantaleon. I stared blankly at the time being depicted by the neon lights and the date that marks today too; 06:32, 18 Septiembre 2395.

It was already the sixth day, and at the programme that was scheduled for today, it will be the parade of superiority and awarding of excellence. Dito na rin makikita kung saan mapupunta ang karamihan at ang kaiklihan ng budget ng Imperium Union Bank, at alam ko nang nangunguna ang Tre ulit dahil karamihan sa mga nanalo, lalo na sa Auction at Battle Royale, ay galing dito. Speaking of, I wonder how Cassandra will react later on when she will be awarded for winning the Battle Royale. She is the 200th Champion, and as I have seen through various researches, she will be very busy this year with many sponsorships and such. She will become an icon, and she also has the option to live in this ‘paradise’, though I have doubts she will really want to live on this city-ship where her lover died.

The same morning ritual and routine happened, and I decided to bring it all out with my outfit for today—I decided to go for the ‘futuristic’ look which is the trend now, rather than the minimal outfits that I have been wearing for the past few days since the start of the foundation week. I decided to go for the default dresses that were being offered in the Tech-Wardrobe, I chose this silver dress that was fit enough to somehow highlight the curves of my body, and the silver shade seems to glisten as well when there is contact with light, making it shift color from silver, to a darker shade of gray, it was outlined as well with this neon blue color that was glowing. I paired it with the same color of my leather shoes that went up two inches below my knees and my pixie-cut hair somehow made the look complete, as I looked intimidating and from here.

I decided to continue wearing my rose-ring, as it was the only insignia left of nature in my body, and I also promised Ingrid as well. I wonder if she and Tiara are doing well... Well, they were robots. But still, they had this idea of consciousness and self, they had awareness. I wonder if they are watching the event from the Mansion? The thought made me curious, but I let it go and focused on customizing my outfit, accessories, and everything else.

Bigla ko ring naalala na mabibigyan din pala ako ng award sa araw na ito, because of my contribution for Chun Lee’s Project Light, that aims to make quantum teleportation possible. But I know the Union will not benefit from his invention, he will use it for the ROSE Society, for there will be a revolution that is going to happen. The Union will fall, and another shall rise which will not be detrimental to the people. A government that respects human rights, and a government that is accountable and transparent—democracy. For this world, people will deem it as an obsolete and old system that is ancient and classic, but still, it is the only system I can think of which will not abridge human rights. But I wonder, now that I think of it, I never got the chance to know what the ROSE Society will replace with the New Capitulum System that is implemented by the Union.

Nang nakapaghanda na kami ni Lag ay tumungo na muli kami sa rooftop ng Palace kung saan naghihintay ang hovercar na tila limousine. Nauna kami ni Lag doon at hinintay namin ang iba pang mga kasama namin—sumunod si Cassandra kasama si Mayor Elizabeth, matapos ang ilang segundo ay dumating na rin si Mayor Marina. Nakangiti ngayon si Mayor Elizabeth, halatang good mood dahil ang Tre ang makakakuha ng pinakamalaking share sa Imperium Union Bank’s fund allocation, dahil na rin ito sa magandang performance ng Tre lalo na sa Battle Royale at Auction. It was quite ironic, how much sacrifices were made just to get a big portion of the share. I do not find it ideal too, I’d rather go back to the old ways where people are educated and they go to work, rather than having it all left to the robots to do the work and all humans just do is supervise and stuff. The people nowadays are living a lux and idle life, and I do not want that. I think it is contagious, and that it needs to stop because work is essential. It gives a sense of purpose and stuff.

I know I have this personality and attitude of someone who is imposing her ideals, but the world needs it. Especially the world now, the way I see it.

When we were finally complete, the hovercar ascended into the air and we moved towards the Arena. Pansin ko lang ay lahat ng event ay dito sa Arena naganap. Not like there is any other venue which can accommodate the number of people and the event in itself except this Arena, since despite how big the city-ship can look like, it was still small. So much space were maximized to the fullest extent, that it looks big.

When the hovercar landed, we all moved out of it, and there was an Imperial Knight waiting who seems to be someone tasked to escort us. Without a word, we all moved and followed the knight as he walked. Iba ang daanang pinuntahan namin ngayon at alam kong hindi na kami pupunta pa sa mga dibisyong may numero. As we walked a dark corridor and finally crossed the end of it, my eyes adjusted to the sudden change of light and scenery, and I realized we were already at the Arena in itself, at the very center of it, there were piles of chair that were ascending, and at the center of it all was a stage where a throne meant for the Empress resides.

Iba na naman ang itsura ng Arena. It seems to be ever-shifting—all I can say is that the invention of this 3-D printer in a wide-scale area is dope, as it was able to manage to create this. Para akong nasa isang opera. And from this view, I do not see the divisions. They were all covered, and the screens somehow showed the flag of the Union and the five districts, and there were pillars too. They were hologram-like too, and they looked real, but just glowing. I was amazed. I cannot really put into words everything that I see, as all details were new to me, and it is hard to process how magical this place has become, but magical is not the right word because it was Science doing its wonders.

“Welcome to the Parade of Superiority & Awarding of Excellence. The event shall commence in ten minutes. Please proceed to your designated rows. Only invited guests are allowed and the awardees.”