NationStates Jolt Archive

Life in the Colony the relatively easy, food always seemed in a ready supply, reproduction was encouraged "for the good of the species", and there was extremely large gym, and a large and well stocked library, education was taken seriously, get good grades and you get to be one of the lucky few that get conscripted to become apart of the great endeavour, become muscular and beefy and you get to be apart of providing the manual labour to save humanity

Despite all the recent advances in technology, the colonies (there was more than one) where dying, the reason for this was that the world outside the underground colonies where dying, humanity was headed for extinction, or so the people thought and the only way for humanity to survive was to launch a vehicle that could travel through the vastness of space... to Utopia, a planet that had been discovered, an idealic paradise much like to the earth used to be, where humanity would be saved.

However when you get to 30 years old, if you hadn't become one of the elite, the strong in mental capacity or physicality. You were sent out to work in the harsh environment, keeping the colony alive and stocked with food, doing the menial tasks that are out of sight keeping the colony alive.

Rea Oswald was a 24 year old man, he had worked and worked, he wasn't the brightest, infact there weren't very many people dumber than he was, so his only option to become one of the few elite, those that not only work on the endeavour but also leave on it for a new paradise. His only hope was to achieve the muscle bulk and virility required, his life had been that of determination, he worked and worked and worked every moment he could.

Finally it was time for the bi-yearly physical exam, he was nervous... he entered the Doctors office.

After full examination including fertility tests, he was declared to have met the requirements, a full medical dossier was prepared.

"Now, Rea, we still have one final hurdle... The Board of Human Resources, they have the final say on who moves, on, I have your medical Dossier, but they may ask you to perform various tasks, just do your best, I know you can do it." said the Doctor. Typing a few things away on his computer and then leading the man out of the chamber. Towards the central gathering area, in it was a large screen that showed a number of things, declaring progress is being made. After a few minutes of waiting the familiar image of a woman is on the screen they have seen her for so long, it's like she as a personality of her own, everyone knows her and yet no one knows the littlest thing about her.

"Congratulations Rea Oswald, you will be joining those lucky few who will be working to save humanity and will be able to join with the all the others on their way to the paradise of Utopia," an image from space is shown of a blue and green planet with white clouds, it seems perfect, pristine, ideal. "Everyone please welcome the newest member of the team."

An uproar of congratulations and support came from those around, most where wishing they could be going instead of Rae but still it was a momentous occasion for him and you had to be glad for him at those sort of things. Rae started his way towards an opening just under the display screen the Doctor going with him upto a point, he handed over the information to the guards that ensured only the qualified could pass through the gates, they were colloquially known as the "Gate of Heaven". Guards escorted Rea into what looked like a room, "You will be on your way, shortly." as the guards disappeared leaving Rea alone he could feel the sensation of moving... but it wasn't him, it was the room, it was strange and foreign. Meanwhile back in the main central area... the woman continued speaking after Rae had gone.

"Also I'd like to announce that a number of people have recently had a 30th birthday and their time for civil duty has come so we can continue to sustain life." 10 names were read out.
"Vac Henryson, Gray Ham, Frink Donalds, Trev D'Or, Cannise Kenyan, Stan Rean, Dane Forbes, Lake Dee, Joe Hammerton and Isa Watts. Thank you, please report to the gate for duties. Thank you for joining us."

And with that she went... disappeared from the screen the ten people went forward disappointed that they would never be one of the elite but quite aware of their civic duty to work to provide the best chance for humanity to live on in the stars.

The guards lead them the same way that Rea, until they took a left, this room was entirely different, it was entirely different looked like a vault. They were told "This will take you up to the surface where your tasks will be assigned." the guards told them. The guards looked the door and pressed a button, but instead of moving the room started to fill up with water the room seemingly had drains but they weren't working why weren't they working?. The room filled up with water and the 10 peoples fate were sealed.... They were dead. Lifeless in the water. The water was very cold as well, almost freezing.

After ten minutes either they were drowned or dead from extreme hypothermia the drains started working, water was drained out of the room and the bodies where loaded up onto Guernsey type things and taken away.

Rae, however had arrived at his destination, he was lead through a complex pattern of passage ways until he arrived at where obviously was the Board of Human Resources, a man was standing in a suit, he had neither seen the man before nor the type of suit. The house and everything it seemed so foreign. The man already had Rae's medical report.

"As you can see we only provide the best..." the mad handed the medical records over to the board, who all glanced at it and approved nodding their heads as they did so.

"Rae would be able to tell us, if you moved something say from the desk , to where you are and back to the desk, would you say that you put it exactly where it was?"

The question stunned Rae, "Umm, yes.. uh, If I took something then put it back then yes."

"Okay, thank you Rae, we've heard enough, Would you like to join us for Lunch?"

"I sure would."

A man from the board stood up and started to walk towards, "I thought so." and with that, in a quick flash he produced a gun and shot Rae in the head, the gun was silenced, but that didn't make it any less lethal Rae collapsed onto the floor dead.

"Okay, here's the money we agreed per Kilo. He should last us for a while." the man said, handing over an obscenely large amount of money.

"Pleasure doing business with you."

"Why did you shoot him in the head? I like the brain." scolded one of the women on the board

"Well, you are not going to get much out of it, he was as thick as a brick. Anyway, Time we took him to the kitchen."

The 10 people called would find themselves cut up into parts and find themselves available to be eaten by meat connoisseurs. Anyway, a Human is afterall just an animal, right?

OOC: I'm looking for a number of people to be apart of this "colony" which really is a human farm, sort of like "The Island" doubt, escape, realisiation that everything you thought was true was fake and then realisation of the nasty truth... You were raised to be eaten... What you do after that is upto you)

The colony. The endeavor.
Empty promises.
Deceit.
My duty. My death.


Her soft green eyes flickered and she closed her pale ivory lids over them. Her chest heaved and she sighed.

A soft smile came to her pump pink lips. “Now, Isaac I wanted you to write to me about your heritage. What does this have to do with it?”

Isaac was in her program, now for one year, and he had barely opened up to her. Most teenage addicts were sent by the judges to see her. Isaac’s drug of choice was mushrooms. He had been introduced to them by his older brother, Thalamus. Thalamus was clean now for two years and still visited with her. But the drug crashed into Isaac harder and he was under its control. He rarely went to school and she was lucky he kept her appointments. There were many times he came to her high.

Her vivid green eyes meet his cold grey eyes. “It is my realization.”
His thin lips curled into a wicked smile.

A shrill ring rang and rang.

She just blinked at him. Her thoughts clouded by the alarm.

“Miss Isabella? I believe my time is up? See ya later.”

“Wait. Sit down Isaac. I would like you to explain please.”

Isaac stood still and dropped his head. His tan hand gripped the edge of the chair and his knuckles turned white. He brought his head up and wiped the black straight hairs behind and away from his eyes.

“I wish I could.” He turned quickly and sprinted out of her office and ran down the hall.

There was a soft tap on her oak door. Rap, tap, tap.

“Yes.”

“Miss Isabella is everything okay. I saw that young Glotti boy run out. Most of the time we have to pull those teens out of your office.”

Isabella learned that she only trusted those adolescents or children she talked to. Her father had told her not to trust anyone, but those you have that gut feeling about. She only felt comfort with them. For the most part there was this aching deep in her chest when she spoke to her peers. Isabella became an orphan at the age of five, but she remembered everything, but forgot it all. There were times her mind played tricks on her. She wasn’t sure if it was her memories or just cruel horrid dreams. She was told her parents died in an automobile accident, but her memories showed they were murdered at home before her own eyes. Isabella was nurtured by science and math and who can find comfort in that. Isabella felt a connection to those children, for she was lost also. She had lost her parents, even the very image of them, blurry before her eyes.

Many of their family friends say she looks just like her mother. Short, yet slender. Her figure petite, but amble in feminine areas. Her bosom and hips voluptuous and her stomach tone, while her legs and arms firm. Her eyes oval emerald green while her nose dipped into a button over full rose lips. She of only 21 years, aging some of her cases by only three years, was a social worker. She had excelled at the orphanage and surpassed children five or more years older than her. She had already received a doctorate in social work and had a very comfortable job, but her case load was always heavy. She didn’t mind, the children were her outlet away from those her age.

She just had an unsettling feeling about the colony, about her past. Although, she did not share this with anyone, trust no one.

“Ah I am sure he had some hot date.”

The young blonde secretary shrugged her shoulders and strutted away.

Isabella stepped out of her office, still holding the small piece of paper with those words written on them.

She tucked the piece of paper in her breast pocket close to her heart. Although, she was dressed in a black skirt cut just before her knees and a navy blue silk blouse, she decided to take a walk through Colony Park and watch the sun set. Only then she might find peace.

She stared at the crimson sun as it dipped into the horizon.
Even the sun bleeds.

OOC: I would like to participate, but i don't understand where this is going and what kind of characters you are looking for.

She hadn't known anything else, to her the Sun was real but no, it wasn't... The whole complex was underground, and only a few areas like this "the open areas" had the simulated Sun, it made sense to the designers and to those in the colony.

The park was the most natural environment that existed within the colony, and also the most beautiful, Utopia was meant to be 100 times more beautiful, it promised freedom, no longer being restricted to the colony, no longer being shunted off away to perform "civic duties". No one that was left was ever heard of again, most people would just wipe the people from their minds not wanting to think about the risk of the harsh and deadly environment they must be entering.

The Park at this time was usually emptying itself of people that where just enjoying the so called natural environment, in various forms, a picnic or physical activity of one sort or another was what usually kept the park full of life, but as the night came, so everyone started to head home. Everyone seemingly apart from Miss Isabelle.

"Woooaahh... Ahh, HEELLLPPP!" someone screached as he obviously somehow lost control of the bicycle he was riding and went straight into the lake, it was about 40m away from her but everyone else in the vicinity had gone.

The young man, a rough estimate would be 16 or 17 years old was now totally drenched and obviously quite embarrassed, though the fact that there was only one onlooker obviously helped him deal with his embarrassment. Hewas standing up, the lake was quite shallow, perhaps a better word for it would be pool.

The air started to get a little colder not much but just a little, as was usual, they also simulated the effects of night to a degree but it was well known the temperature was controlled anyway.

The young man, just truly coming to maturity of both mind and body, was soon standing up, picking up the now bent out of shape bi-cycle he started to walk past her, not saying a word presumably on his way home. His eyes were down cast, not wanting to look into the eyes of the only person to see him make such a folly.

OOC: Tootston, I've sent a TG to you.

Dr. Brock McDade sat quietly in his plush apartment. The faint noise of the city seeped in through the crack left in his window. But Brock's mind lay elsewhere than the sound of cars and mechanic buzzing. He was thinking about tomorrow. Tomorrow he started his job. Actually, his career. The profeession he had chosen to enter. A social worker. Of all the jobs that could be taken in the Colony and he chose to be a social worker. He had worked long and hard to earn the degree needed to enter the field, and the Department.

Brock was far from average. He was tall and muscular, a build that came from many years of athletic conditioning. He had short blond hair and blue eyes. But his appearance was of little value compared to his brain. He was one of the sharpest and brightest in the Colony. He had graduated secondary school early and entered university on a full scholarship. He majored in psychology and soon earned a bachelors degree. He could have quit there, but he continued and by the time he was done, had earned a masters degree in social work and a doctorate in child psychology. But Brock is a humble man, the type who is neither pretentious nor beguiling. He takes pleasure in simplicity. He is kind, trusting, and friendly.

He picked up the letter once more.

7:30. That is the start of the rest of my life, he thought.

*snip*

It supposed to be the middle of the night and Doctor McDade by all means should have been fast asleep but there was a knock on the door, a loud knock of three followed by another loud three knocks. Who ever it was knocking should have also been asleep.

Brock heard a knock on the door from his bedroom. What time is it? he thought. He glanced at the clock. 2:37. He rolled himself out of bed and slipped on his robe. He yawned as he walked to the door. He hesitated a moment before opening the door. I wonder who it is...he thought for a moment, then opened the door anyway.

As Brook opened the front door, what meet him was nothing. There was no one there at the door just vacant. After a moment he would notice a plain minilla envelope sitting on the landing just outside his door.

It would is bulging due to the fact of being so full of whatever it contained.

Brock opened the door expecting to find a drunken neighbor or a desperate friend, but instead found am empty corridor. He stepped out into the hall and looked around, until his eyes landed on a bulging envelope with his name written in large block letters. He stooped to pick up the envelope, wondering what was inside. He took it back into his apartment to investigate.

bump*

OOC: I'm waiting for Theodra...

Oh, and did you get a TG from me Tootson?

OOC: Yes, and yes.

OOC: Blushes...sheepishly. I am sorry. Real life hasn't really let me settle down to write much. Here is a small post I guess.

IC:
Her eyes widened with shock. One moment she was enjoying the peace of the setting sun and another a young teenager flew past her ending up soaking wet from the water. He was obviously embarrassed as how low his head was. It appeared that only his pride was hurt, but it would be best to find out.

She stood up and moved slowly, not to frighten him.

“Hey there,” a smile broke out on her face and her green eyes dimmed to a softer shade of emerald, “how is the water this time of year.” She giggled softly, as not to direct it at the young man, who appeared in his late teens.

As she finally reached him, she patted his bicycle seat. “Looks like this won’t be a good ride home. How bout I get you a taxi cab.”

She didn’t want to be too aggressive and besides she had her license to think about. People talk in the colony and when they do it is not always something positive.

She pulled out her work cell phone and her eyes meet the young boy’s, “So would you like me to call you a cab? Or I can walk with you. I was on my way out of the park. It is up to you, but the weather is getting a bit chilly and you are wet. No need to get sick, right?”

It was something that he just couldn't avoid, his blue eyes looked at her and smirked a little. "Well, I don't plan to go swimming again." He tried to bluster his way through the conversation, in the hope that he could at least pretend that it didn't really worry him.

Though looking at the bike after the comment she made, he sighed and said "Yeah, and it looks like I won't be making the grade either. That was my last chance, and yeah Taxi would be great thanks."

~~~

The package was full of photos, documents, reports all of or about Isabella. Information about her education, her history and a number of documents that even as a welfare worker. Her IQ, it was amazing, a troubled past but then again who hadn't lost a parent. Well not quite at such a young age but the adults always seem to go to perform their civic duty and are then never heard of again.

The only thing in there that wasn't printed it was a note scribbled on a scrap of paper. "You mustn't let her take the test."

The test, was one of the ways that those in charge choose people to help with "the great endeavor" but it had been a while and there usually was a great media blitz before hand. As far as he knew there being a test soon enough to make this meaningful was about as likely as seeing, well, anything really fly.

Isabella dialed information to get the number for the local taxi cab company. "Yes, I would like a taxi to come to the Pikeng Park." She paused and frowned, "a half an hour. We will wait." They weren't even close to a place to get him something warm to drink. I just hope the boy doesn't get sick.

She turned to the boy and smiled, "Looks like you are stuck with me for alittle longer."

She pointed to the nearby bench that she was sitting on. "Let us sit here and wait."

"So, tell me about this grade?" She laughed, "You know what I didn't even tell me your name. Well, it is Isabella. What is yours as well?

She peered back at the sun and watched it dip below the surface of the horizon and the street lights blinked with anticipation for the darkness.

"Graham" he said

"I promised myself that I wouldn't let myself still be here when I'm thirty. My parents had reached that age a few years ago, and I wasn't going to let them down. However everything I tried... well just say ended up like riding that bike, and I just have no other options."

He had opened up to her, shown her abit of himself, perhaps it was the fact that he just seemed comfortable with her, or perhaps it was something else. Either case he seemed to be around.

"Well, if it's going to take that long, let's just walk to my place. It's not that far away only about 12 or so blocks away, and you can make sure that I don't get a cold or anything?"

*bump*

As she listened to him talk about leaving prior to thirty her gut wrenched and she thought she was going to vomit all over the soaked kid. Her eyebrows raised with question relaxed as he stated they could just walk home.

She laughed, looking down at her feet. "I think it would be best for my tootsies that we do not walk." She showed him her high heels with stelettos. Just then came a sharp honk. She smiled, saved by the bell, "Besides here is our taxi."

They climbed into the taxi together and the young man gave the taxi driver the address to his home. She was silent, for that ache was back and haunting her, and she didn't want to look like she was insane. As the taxi driver pulled to a stop, she looked at the boy with her soft green eyes. She slipped out her business card that was clearly typed out her name, Isabella Bertino, BS MSW, public services and private counseling, with the address of her office and her office number. "Stop in anytime, or maybe I will see you at the park. Please do stop in. And hurry and get warm inside." The boy said goodbye and soon the taxi man was asking if she was getting out or not.

She nervously giggled, "Sorry, no please take me to 235 E Miramir Circle." She would just take a taxi cab in the morning to work. She knew her car would be safe in the parking garage, but the night guard she assumed was gone at 8pm and it was already 9 o'clock.

She quickly got ready for bed, she felt she needed to get rest for tomorrow, she had no idea why.

---------------------------
Time always went by so fast in the morning getting ready for work. The shower always woke her up and her breakfast coffee gave her even more energy. She dressed how she typically dressed to work either in a suit, or sweater with a skirt or nice slacks. Today she opted for a black knee length skirt and a soft pink twin sweater set and black high heels. Her hair rested on her shoulders. The taxi drive was a bit longer than it was the previous night, because of the morning traffic. She arrived to work a half hour early. She liked to prepare for that morning by looking over her case notes and usually it offered her some quiet time before any of her co-workers or her staff came in.

She turned on her computer and her schedule popped up on her screen. Looked like today would be a heavy day, she was to meet with two new adolescents this morning and then the afternoon she would be out in the field visiting one high school to meet with the counselors to see who needed more one on one work.

She began to look over her first person who would be in an hour after their office opened. She wanted to scan over the person's file from the court and get some questions in mind already...

"Thank you, I'll talk to you soon." Graham said pocketing the card as he exited the Taxi which soon drove away, leaving him with a slight ache in his leg, which after a bit of a stretching seemed to go away.

As for the next morning, the simulated sun rose, the light from it's soft glow warmed up everything that it touched. The Taxi's radio was on, A special news bulletin came on and announced that yet again the "great endeavour had been suffering severe delays due to insufficient manpower" and in this case that it was a sort of brain drain that was the result of this problem, so a test would be administered in a couple of weeks where the best and brightest would be clamouring to get one of the limited spaces.

They accepted only those whose minds where nimble and adept at solving problems and those that had a great practical knowledge as well. As such electrical engineers, mechanical engineers and other such careers where generally over represented in such tests but, rarely if ever a social worker would even think of attending one.

After Isabella would have arrived at the office after her initial run-down of her days schedule there was a letter in her in-tray. Which was strange because she knew she hadn't anything in their last night and it was too early for the office mail to have done it's rounds. It was from the "organisation", The Organisation for Brain Development and Testing, the people responsible for administering the tests. Inside she would find an invititation to participate in the upcoming test along with an already assigned place. Which as far as she knew, never happened, there were so many clamouring for a place that this was unheard of.