On a well-settled Mars, the five major city Council regimes
struggle to meld into a stable, working government. Embracing an official
Unified Faith In Humanity, the Councils are teetering on the verge of pogrom
directed against Christians, Molesters , Jews, Rapists, Buddhists, Murderers,
Muslims, Thieves, Hindu, Embezzlers and Artificial Humans – anyone who
threatens the official Faith and the consolidating power of the Councils. It
makes good sense, right – get rid of religion and Human divisiveness on a
societal level will disappear? An instrument of such a pogrom might just be a
Roman holiday...To see the rest of the chapters and I’m sorry, but a number of
them got deleted from the blog – go to SCIENCE FICTION:
Martian Holiday on the right and scroll to the bottom for the first
story. If you’d like to read it from beginning to end (70,000+ words as of
now), drop me a line and I’ll send you the unedited version.
Aster Theilen, current Consort
of the Mayor of Opportunity, Mayor-for-Life, Etaraxis Ginunga-Gap said, “When will we reach the orphan’s quarters?”
“They don’t have quarters, dear; and
they’ve been with us most of the time we’ve been down here,” said her father, Abedne
Halle-Theilen. They reached the last light in the
tunnel. Illumination spilled through an arch from a huge room. As they passed
through, they stopped under a ceiling so high, it disappeared into inky
darkness. Small, rubber wheeled cars, standing alone or hitched together in
trains of two to ten, had been neatly parked, backed into charging units.
In the harsh light, Aster saw dark blue
artificial humans on the seats, sometimes cramming six or seven into a single
car. They were utterly silent. Her father began, “Be…”
Aster cut him off, “No drama, Dad. This
is the saddest day of my life. Let it be for now.”
He closed his mouth and nodded slowly
as Aster stepped farther into the circle of carts, crossed it and stood in
front of the one on the other side. She bowed to the four Artificial Humans
seated before her. They stared at her, neither hostile nor accepting. Their
faces betrayed nothing. Though they looked to be in their early twenties, they
could be anywhere from fresh out of the vats, to real-time early twenties. Some
of the “vat-grown” were created to be life-time companions, servants, and
nannies for those who could afford to have them grown. Most had a design
lifespan of two decades, though she’d heard that some were granted a span of
however many years they could manage to live with the understanding that if
they no longer served their purpose, they could be disposed of or simply
terminated.
“There’s an entire underground industry
that sells reusable intis,” he used
the vulgar slang, “or ay-aychs, if
you prefer.” He fixed her with a long look, adding, “Seeing you’re in elevated
company now, perhaps I should just say, Artificial Humans.”
Aster scowled, “Dad? What’s going on?”
He shook his head sadly, “Nothing. That’s
what worries me. I thought you’d be able to make changes in Opportunity; maybe
help the Christian community – and the Muslims, Hindu, Jews, and Buddhists maybe
even the ay-aychs.” He sighed. “I had
very high hopes for you.”
She shook her head, pursed her lips,
then said, “I haven’t told you everything, Father.”
“What do you mean?”
She shook her head. “I can’t tell you
what’s going on in the Pylon. I don’t want to tell you what’s going on there.”
“Why can’t…”
She held up her hand. “Because it would
place you in all kinds of danger. I am doing exactly what you hoped I would do,
but it’s not going to happen fast. There’s a tremendous amount of groundwork we
need to lay before anything important can happen – and I’m doing what I can
until then.” She gestured to the blue faces regarding her solemnly. “They are
why I came here with you. I know how much you’ve invested in their lives. Now I
need for them to do something for me – I am making a request of them, and of
you, Dad, as the Consort of Mayor-for-Life, Etaraxis Ginunga-Gap.”
He
looked startled then stepped back, sweeping a bow to her. “Then speak, your
highness.”
“You’re
teasing, but in my place, what I am about to say has the effect of law. It can
only be withdrawn or contradicted by my husband, the Mayor of Opportunity.”
“You’re
kidding…”
“Not
at all, Dad. Members of the Artificial Human community, oppressed by those of
us who are natural-born, I request and require,” she turned slowly meeting the
eyes of every Artificial Human she could see, then said, “that you no longer take your orders from my father. You take
orders only from me – or a duly appointed mouthpiece of mine, who will only act
when he or she presents a sigil representing my Voice.” She looked at her dad
and said, “Sorry. It’s necessary for the plan.” She spoke loudly, “Please
signify your understanding and acceptance of my request and requisition by
raising your right hand.” A moment later every hand was raised, every face
solemn. She turned to her father and said, “Sorry, Daddy. You’ve been voted
out.”
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