chapter 2

Mannar had a typical habit of shouting for a cup of coffee the moment she woke-up. Well, her mother normally attended this need untilMannar was nearly eighteen. However, this morning, on the year of 2249, Mannar woke up and as per her habit, let out a yell for a cup of coffee.

“Mama Coffee –”

The voice reverberatedthroughout the entire room of 121, resulting in a deadly silence. Mannar, still being disoriented opened her eyes slowly and looked around. It took her two minutes to realize that she should have been died of cancer. How has she survived? Mannar at once sat upright and understood the factor that she was stark naked. Fearfully, she began to take-in her new surroundings. The large hall seemed to be very dimly lit, but she noticed tons of small containers, similar to her. A 6 X 3 container.

Why am I sitting in a container? Where am I? How did I get here? Where is my family?

Endless questions began to form in her chaotic mind.

“Welcome back Mannar.”

Mannar sharply turned her back to see two people, one an American looking girl and another, anIrishlooking man, smiling at her. Mannar at once drew her legs together and closed her arms around her chest in utter shame.

The girl walked in with a long white robe and handed it silently to Mannar. Mannar took it and hastily put it through her naked body. Why am I not in India? Why am in a different place with foreign people? Mannar asked herself again, and next instance, she remembered that she was a cancer patient due to die very shortly. I must be dead and in either heaven or hell. Mannar thought to herself and looked up at the girl with questioning eyes.

“Mannar, you are a very lucky girl. You have made it; you just earned a wonderful life ahead of you.” The American looking girl said with a warm smile.

Made it! Lucky?Mannar closed her eyes to recall again. Slowly, her mind began to dawn about the last thing she desperately wished for. Cyro-preservation!

“You mean, I was Cyro-preserved and now I am going to be cured!” Mannar asked speaking rapidly.

“You are already cured Mannar. There is no Malignancy in you now. You can lead a happy life.” The Irish looking man answered her with a faint smile on is long lips. His piercing blue eyes seemed to have strong effect. Mannar felt naked in front of it.

“Oh! But who are you? Where are my parents? Can I meet them?”Mannar again asked in a rapid speech with a strong Indian accent.

“Mannar, it is important for you to understand this. This is 23^rd century and you lived during 21^stcentury. You were in cryo-sleep for nearly 225 years and now you have been resurrected. Hence, you won’t find any dear ones of you. Please understand the reality and accept it before it is too late.” The Irish looking man again said in a very soothing voice and looked at Emory.

“Mannar, I am going to take you to your new quarters, you can join with your fellow-people of 21^stcentury.” Emory gently pulled Mannar’s hand to drag her out of the container.

***

The whole Redeem Stead was a tiny colony itself. It had twenty eight chambers. Each named alphabetically starting from A and ending with Z +.Every chamber in Redeem Stead was in itself like a big house, well furnished and well equipped. The each R-Stead chamber (in short form), inhoused four large halls, oneDevour Banquet station, two dining area, and twoComfort Stations (restrooms). The redeem stead was ideally built for the habituation of resurrected subjects of 21^st century primitives. This was envisioned once after Esq. Mayden became the fourth gaffer of Gorbs. It took nearly four years to remodify the giganticbase of Cryonic Clime where the primitive inhabitants are to undergo the constant monitorization. The secondary intention of Esq. Mayden was to subject the primitives to Brainsetprogramme. However, that would be done only after a long survey of the behavioral aspects of the 21^st century primitives. Now that the Cryonic Clime and R-Stead are ready and operational, and of course thanks to the latest breakthrough, Esq. Mayden‘s plans are very close to be executed.       

Presently, in R-Stead A, there were already around thirty resurrected people, when Mannar entered the big hall. It was like a huge dormitory with double decked cots and cupboards everywhere. Everything about the place was in orderly and neat. Not even a speck of dust can be found anywhere. Emory lead Mannar towards the left side and towards a lower deck cot which boldly announced as ‘Subject 121’. 

“Mannar, just relax for few hours. You have all you need in the cupboard. We will come back and give you all an induction.” Emory smiled sweetly and left.

Mannar sat on the cot and looked around. The cot was tag lined with a number 121. It has soft bed with colorful bedspread and cushions. Beside it was a big mahogany cupboard with impeccable designs and pattern that were very much alien to Mannar. It was just like being at the first day of her hostel life, back in 21^st century. Only difference was this was no hostel life, rather second evenings of her life. Mannar just could not believe that she has been resurrected and now living amongst the advanced 23^rd century people– here, she was again in a society which she just couldn’t even imagine. Life really has given her an amazing twist – she was after all, going to live her young life. And importantly, she is not infected to cancer anymore. Only difference is – she would not to have neither parents nor her friends alongside her. She was a time traveler and all alone for that matter.

Slowly Mannar looked on the other side of hall to see many smiling faces at her. Her comrades! Her fellow centurions! Mannar smiled back encouragingly at them. Encouraged, they began to walk towards her hesitantly. Many of them were old. Older enough to be her mother or father! And importantly, they were all from different regions of her earlier world. Among them, she was the only young pupil.

“Hello there Dear! Welcome back.” A woman, old enough to be her mother said in a thick American accent.

“Hello, thank you madam, I – I don’t know what to say.”Mannar murmured shyly looking at the elder woman.

“Well dear, I can understand. It is same with all of us too. By the way, I am Sahara. I hail from Yorkshire, I mean earlier.” The elderly woman said giggling like a small kid and Mannarbegan to like her immediately. As a matter of fact, Mannar, in her previous life, didn’t have had much chance to meet people from other countries than India.

“My name is Mannar and I am from India. Madam Sahara, isn’t it wonderful of these people to resurrect us? They seem godlike to me, what do you say?”Mannar asked looking intently at the beautiful blue eyes of the elderly woman.

“It is too early for any of us to say that. Yes, it seems like a miracle that we are alive yet again. Many of us are still confused with the ways of the advanced society. Some of the earlier arrived ones are questioning about them keeping us in here all time.” Sahara said looking around her once carefully.

“Oh! Is it? Are we not supposed to go out and explore this advanced world?”Mannar asked with an expression of a six-year-old kid.

“Young lady, there are many questionable things happening here and hence we are not sure about anything. Let us see how things go on from here since more people would be joining us soon.” An elderly looking man with thick grey hairs and husky Russian accent expressed.

***

It was almost late evening, when Emory and Dallan escorted the last batch of resurrected people. The total strength now was close to one hundred. The R-Stead A - which earlier was looking dull and vacant, now seemed to spur with life. There were happy faces, there were surprised faces and there were chaotic faces. It was a new world; it was a brave new world of primitives of 21^st Century. Here, they are given the second chance of their life.

Bolaski, the chief CMP, now addressed the lucky Cryo-regenerated subjects for the first time, while Emory and Dallan stood by his either side. Bolaski, before starting the induction took his time to study the faces of most of the subjects.

“It is my pleasure to introduce myself to you all. My name is Bolaski; I am the chief CMP of the advanced world which we call now as Gorbs. Yes, I do understand that, it would be quite hard for you all to take some of the information; we are going to present it to you now. Primarily, we are in the mid of 23^rd century, to be precise, in 2449. Many incidents have happened since you were cryo-preserved and hence it is essential for you to understand the historical aspect that happened during your cryo-sleep. Although, the planet earth was scientifically developed well and began to bloom with new inventions and technologies, it also began to go through a tough pace during mid-21^st century. Mainly, over population and economic collapse of many countries including the, then, popular and dominating country America, gave way to the constant outward expression of human emotions which lead to many unsolvable disputes, which in turn lead to the regular mob quarrels. The crime rate drastically increased giving way to the hooligan world. For the government of all countries, it became difficult to punish the offending people since their ratio increased overwhelmingly. The, then governing body Laws and rules began to exist only on papers. Secondly during your cryo-journey, there was also a great political mayhem. The, then democratic and republic forms of all governments of that period ridiculed themselves by fighting for the power and in the process, they obstructed many new inventions and technologies. This hindered the intellectual scientific minds and inventors and stopped many progresses which should have seen light by then. There were constant rebels which time and again ended up with destroying the public property. By the end of 21^st century, earth was virtually standing its own destruction with violent emotive people everywhere. The popular intellectuals, scientists and well-wishers were deliberately massacred as common populace thought they were using all the money and other resources for their own beneficiaries.” Bolaski halted for a long minute and allowed enough time to the listeners to sink in the information. Many of them seemed horrified at the information. This was certainly nothing they either wished or imagined to hear. 

Bolaski continued, “I can understand the turmoil you all are going through now. However, it is my responsibility to educate the historical facts. The beginning on the 22^nd century, as it may come to surprise you all, saw a great apocalyptic event of a giant PHO (Potentially Hazardous object) that your people called as ‘Asteroid’ hit the Atlantic region of earth. From the data’s we derived from debris, we understand that, some of the scientists of your time, did many wonders. And one such wonder is to save the body of nearly ten thousand people using a scientific process called as cryopreservation. First, we should, including you all too, thank them for their forthcoming thinking and their trust on futuristic scientific advancement. And most importantly, they did well enough to save your body in such an impenetrable container, which even stood well and saved your precious body, despite of the biggest apocalyptic event of that time. Now, we have you, I mean, the serviceable ‘Subjects’ with us. Isn’t it?

Just then, the I2P2 palm device of Bolaski announced very important information about the arrival of special guest. It was none other than Esq. Mayden!Bolaski beamed at them once again and said, “You people are really lucky today. All of you have been given a new life, I mean you are resurrected and now, you will be meeting the most powerful man of this advanced Gorbs. Yes, face to face. And his name is Esq. Mayden. Please remember to use the honorary title Esq. in case, if anyone wants to address him.”

They all heard hard footsteps and in no time, the door opened and Esq. Mayden entered the highly conductive R-Stead A. His tall frame stood before them and studied all the eyes of the resurrected primitives with a thin smile on his face. 

“Welcome to the advanced world of Gorbs. I understand that our chief CMPBolaski has already given you all a bit of special induction. I, the Gaffer of present Gorbs, just couldn’t withhold the curiosity of meeting you all face to face. Hence I am here. Before I say anything else, I would like to hear the thoughts of few subjects. Can we have it?” Esq. Mayden said with that with a new mischievous smile on his face.

“To start I have one question Mr. err, I mean Esq. Mayden.” Blake from Canada (ancient!) said with a strong voice.

“Please go ahead.” Esq. Mayden encouraged him.

“From the short talk whatever we had until now, I seem to get the idea that you people are referring us as ‘Subjects’. May I know the reason behind it?” Blake again asked boldly.

Emory and Dallan, who were silent until now, at once exchanged a secret glance at each other. So did Chief CMP Bolaski and Esq. Mayden. However, Esq. Mayden didn’t get surprised at all. He has expected many such questions and he had answers to all their incoming questions. He said in a very much undertone.

“Primarily, I would like to re-state that our society is much more advanced than you could comprehend. And being scientific minded, anything and everything, that we doesn’t completely know is termed as ‘Subjects’ in our society. Since we are also unaccustomed and completely unaware of you all, we have to use the scientific term, which is ‘Subjects’. I hope I am clear on that now.”

Now Sahara, the senior lady from Yorkshire shifted her leg and asked politely, “we do understand that Esq. Mayden. However, at the core – we are all human beings and love to be treated as one, at least in future. But then, that is not my question. My question is - how free are we? As I noticed in our short period, we seem have been constrained in this cabin called as R-Stead A. Since we are new to this advanced world, we would love to explore the outside world and get educated about the advancement that you have now. Would that be possible?”

Esq. Mayden smiled at Sahara sweetly and replied in a very confident voice, “I understand your thoughts and excitement to see the advanced world. Of course, you will have the opportunity in coming days. But as of now, you all are still under observation. It is highly important for us to make sure you all are safe, well fed, well medicated and very importantly, make sure that you have no side effects of Nano-Conmalign (NCM), which is a drug that helped you all to resurrect. Hence you will all be under observation for at least few weeks. I personally request you all to be patient for that period. I am sure you will find it helpful.”

Just then, the I2P2 of Esq. Mayden flashed a yellow light indicating another important schedule of his own. He looked briefly at it and said, “I have to go now. However, before leaving, I would like to take one more question please.”

Mannar, the Indian girl took a forward step and asked in a very nervous voice, “Since we will be here for some time, can we have something to read or watch things about your new advanced world?”

Esq. Mayden looked at Mannar for a very long period of seconds and said in a very husky voice, “You seem to be a very curious young girl. None the less, it is good for us. Of course, you will be given access to read our digital dictums, history and plans of short future using an open digital TabPan. But I warn you all not to come to any hasty conclusion so soon. Have a wonderful time ahead.” Esq. Mayden said in a very soothing voice and walked away. Just at the main door, his sharp eyes turned to get another glance at Mannar, the brown skinned Indian girl. 

****