Short Story: Idols Fall (Ideas)

 Idols Fall 

by Violet Flux

Synopsis

    Earth has become a fragment of itself as it has fallen into a nuclear winter. What was once a biodiverse and bright place is now a dark and cold abyss. Yet people continue to live on the Earth’s surface. These people have harnessed the power of technology to make life on Earth possible. Most live underground to escape the bitter cold and winds of the surface. 

    A collection of cloud cities were forged prior to the fallout to float above the devastation. Life in these cities is luxurious. There is no need or want left unsatisfied. This is due to their reliance on those that dwell on the surface; a relationship they are made wholly unaware of.

    Day in and day out, the surface people harvest, mine and extract what natural resources they can find. This powers both their own dwellings and the floating cities above

    A newly promoted cloud official, PROTAGANIST name here, embarks on a trip to the surface where he meets with the surface dwellers. PROTAGANIST learns of their part in sustaining the cloud cities where he then begins to question his part in their demise. 

    Power outages and other system failures in the cloud cities become more frequent after this event. On the anniversary of the launch of the cloud cities, a convoy of surface dwellers attack the city. PROTAGANIST is then given the chance to escape to the surface.

    PROTAGANIST makes the move to the surface where he spends time getting to know the people there and begins to be roped into how to liberate the people of the surface and Earth at large.

    Should everyone move to the Cloud Cities? Is it sustainable to remain on Earth given the nuclear fallout? Can the surface and cloud dwellers every live together in peace?

   

Cloud Cover

    Beams of morning light began to stretch across the sky, evaporating the darkness the night had left behind. The sun, with its usual finesse, rose towards its apex ushering in a new day.

    For as far as the eye could see, clouds blanketed the planet. Earth was no longer a place of seasons. All that could be found on the surface was bitter cold and intense darkness. Yet, life carried on.

    Life above the clouds stood in stark contrast. At this height views were expansive, the sunshine warm and a kaleidoscope of colors danced . Life here appeared soft and forgiving.

   

    Once the skies of Earth teemed with all manners of life. Birds and airplanes moved through the sky in search of somewhere to land, somewhere to rest until the next take-off. Now, the skies were largely void of any life save for a handful of floating cities. 

    Each city cut a precise path through the clouds silently twirling wafts of water vapor into oblivion. Yet the cities left no wake. Sunlight continued to deflect into space leaving the ground far below void of heat. 

In many respects, these cities were floating pyramids. Wide at the base and tapered at the top. Each structure rising from the platform was precisely crafted from metal, stone and glass. 

Harvest

    Days on Earth were no longer ruled by the sun and moon. The clouds had revoked these celestial beings from doting on their Earthly subjects. Machines now were in charge of time. Night was marked by dim blue-ish toned light while the days were filled with warm fluorescents. Such a change was nominal at best but those above and below the surface were accustomed to the slight variations.

    There existed a mining outpost named the Hive. Around 50 people lived at this outpost. As its name suggests, the hive was a multi-level structure that was suspended in the air. From the surface, you could only see the metallic trusses but the majority of the Hive was below surface level, tucked away from the cold winds above.

    People of the Hive mined by fluorescent light in the space far below the hive.

    Each miner wore a specialized suit to expedite the mining of the materials as well as increase their awareness of their surroundings and stay warm while they worked. Sensors abounded. To protect their face and expand their field of vision, a helmet fitted with an interior visor was worn at all times. Images were drawn in by a single illuminated bar that wrapped around the exterior of the helmet like a ring of Saturn.

    The mining suit also featured hydraulic joints that provided additional strength and the ability to climb with minimal effort. 

    For food, the Hive had created underground green houses. These sat parallel to the upper decks of the hive and were accessible via a small metal bridge hewn into the rock walls. 

    Here, they grew a small variety of food. Potatoes, garlic, broccoli, lentils, blueberries and strawberries and cacao were just some of the plants saved prior to the fallout. It wasn’t much but it provided the Hive dwellers with enough energy to keep going. Here in the greenhouse they were also fortunate to have access to an underground spring.

    Mining work was strenuous and there was a high chance of getting lost or crushed in the tunnels below the surface. Children were tasked to tend to the gardens along with the support of the elders and anyone unable to work in the mines below.

   

    Today, the work was light. 

   

    Darius was in charge. At 57, Darius was the oldest member of the Hive. An accident in the mines had taken his right leg. In its place was a running blade of a brilliant gold hue. It’s curvature bend ever so slightly with each right step. Darius was more than capable of keeping up with the children who loved to run through the foliage. 

    Of the 15 children in the greenhouse today, there was a set of twins in the bunch. Their names were PROTAGANIST and TWINN. These 5 year olds were identical. PRO & TWINN were unique in that they both had silvery white hair, purple eyes and dark skin. Beyond their looks, the two were quite bright.

    They pulled the levitating carts down each aisle to gather the foods harvested by the other children. For them, this task was rewarding. It afforded them the opportunity to check-in on all the plants throughout the greenhouse. Additionally, PRO & TWINN could sneak bites of their favorite fruits when out of view of Darius and the other children.

    PRO & TWINN had no parents in the Hive. However, Darius was their grandfather and he took great pride in raising them.

    A small chime could be heard near the entrance of the greenhouse accompanied by a short series of flashing lights. Someone was entering the airlock chamber to enter the greenhouse.

    Out of the pressurized door walked a woman named Lienne. Lienne worked in the Hive kitchen. She was tall with a pleasant demeanor. Unlike most chefs, Lienne did not wear white but vermillion which made her stand out.

    Some of the children working ran up to Lienne to say hi. She greeted them with soft pats on the head but kindly directed them back to their stations. Lienne was there to speak with Darius.

    “Hello Lienne. Can’t say I expected you to make a personal visit to the greenhouse. Is everything…” 

    “Things are stable… for now.” Lienne states as she looks across the space. “Is it possible for us to speak in private?”

    Darius stands and points his arm in the direction of the pantry doors on the opposite end of the room.

    Without any additional words, the pair move together to the pantry.

    PRO and TWINN are in the same aisle as Darius and Lienne. The pair move off to the right side of the aisle to make way for the adults. Each give the twins a warm, momentary smile before passing by.

   

    Once in the pantry with the door closed, Lienne’s calm demeanor disappears.

    “It’s happening.” Lienne says in a hushed tone.

    Darius sits heavily on a box labelled brussel sprouts. A heavy sigh leaves his mouth.

    “There’s a small envoy en route towards the Hive. All attempts at identifying the crew have failed. The only other time this has occurred was…”

    Darius cuts in. “4 years ago. Back when the Hive was raided.”

    “Yes.” Lienne says. She moves to pat Darius on the back but he recoils slightly. “We must bring everyone back up from the mines and bunker up here in the greenhouse.”

    “How much time do we have?” replies Darius. He stands up and opens the door slightly to see the plants and the children beyond. Each child is engaged in their work but laughter still rings across the greenhouse. In the corner, PRO & TWINN can be seen sneaking more fruit.

    “An hour if our scans are accurate. It’s impossible to know how accurate scans are given the interference of the snow drifts.” Lienne looks to her left sleeve which serves as a computer monitor. The display shows incoming dots on a topographical map.

    Darius beckons Lienne to leave the pantry with him. “You should have rang the alarm already. Why walk all the way over here?” And without waiting for an answer, Darius yells to the children to stop what they are doing and to barricade themselves in the pantry. 

    All the children freeze but then begin to drop their tools and head for the pantry. They had prepared for emergencies in the past but Darius’ general warmth had evaporated. This was serious.

    “I didn’t want to stir unnecessary panic! You know how faulty the machines can be.” 

And with that, Lienne quickly signals to Hive central command to sound the alarm and bring the miners up from their work. She then runs to the airlock door to return to the kitchen to retrieve her staff.

Darius gathers his own belongings and returns to the pantry to begin to conduct a head count. All children are accounted for. Now they must wait for the others to arrive.

Deep sirens began to bellow and shake Darius to the core. Could the world take anything more from him?

____

    Sector 62-2 was the name for the mine below the Hive. Sector 62-2 was atypical in comparison with other mines. No one could see the mine from above; It sat below the surface. Elaborate trusses and pillars were erected to keep the ground layer suspended as the mine spun itself deeper into the Earth. A single exhaust port existed and within this portal to the surface is where the Hive was suspended.

    Neodymium was the most plentiful metal in the sector. Much of the technologies that the people on the surface used in their day to day lives had components of Neodymium within them. Look to the mining suits of the Hive workers as a prime example.

    Miners needed the additional strength of the exo-skeletal suits and advanced lighting that the suits provided. More important than those features was the helmet. It’s stringent filtration system helped miners breathe easily and free from dust contagions. 

    ADD MORE INFORMATION: miners return to the hive, maybe mention a bird or flying animal that is friendly with the miners. Known to sense bad situations. The birds will fly away right before they receive news to evacuate the mines.

    All Hive members were accounted for. The darkness, complete. Sounds echoed but with a heightened intensity. Last reports of the incoming parties whereabouts placed there arrival within the space of 10 minutes. Systems across the outpost were powered down save for the heating and ventilations system. Noise was minimal from this system and it, in many ways, mirrored the sound of the gales above.

    Even now, the only sounds was wind passing through the tunnel where the Hive was suspended. Big blusters would calm to nothing, each time sending the hearts of all into overtime.

    Every adult in the greenhouse was wishing for the same thing and that was for the constant storms above to throw off the search party. Even if there was still a scent to follow, sight lines to the surface don’t account for much. Small hills and rock formations mirrored the look of the exhaust above the Hive.

    And while everyone was wishing, they simultaneously pondered. It had been half a decade since the last raid (if this in fact the same thing). What was triggering the attacks?