DitD 11 metal rain

  I wasn’t prepared for the mess that was about to come. The daily update rang out throughout the raising facility. “Today a fugitive against the Galiasian government has been arrested. He was an agent for the Mercurians and attempting to overthrow the Galiasians by misinforming our youth in the schools. He was caught trying to cover for a student by the name of John Denx. His friends and counter cell members have been captured and held in custody. Please inform all authorities if your see John Denx or suspect any others of being apart of the splinter group.”

But when I saw Mr Dren on the news being seen as a traitor to the entire system I knew that I had to lay low. But where would I go. How would I escape. Everyone knew who I was and where I would go. I had to think unlike myself. I could try to run towards the Mercurians. But they would never take a Galiasian into their midsts. They were criminals. 

The best I knew based on what I had been told the Mercurians were raiders who only wanted one thing, the destruction of the Galiasians. They all had Mohawks and clean shaven so you couldn’t distinguish males from females. The Mercurians carried barbaric weapons of war like swords of steel and they used those weapons to randomly kill each other in the streets. They had no respect for themselves or others. But I had no choice. If I was to survive I would need to hide amongst them.

I gathered up my courage and my things. I’m sure I could sell some of my things at the border and procure a weapon and a haircut to hide among them. It was going to be hard to say goodbye to my long luscious black hair. At least I wouldn’t need my hair brush anymore. I hid in the vents of the raising house and when scheduled sleep hours I grabbed my mask, boots, cuffs and hat and headed out the door. I hoped that the rain would give me a bit of cover. Slipping out of town was easier than I thought. It was if they weren’t looking for me. I found a nearby cave that wasn’t labeled on any of our maps. So I slipped inside. Perhaps some sleep would help me to figure out where I would go from here. 

I was surprised to find an old man sleeping in the cave. He had everything including a decon station. I tried to hide but he spotted me. “Don’t bother running.” He said with a smile. “Rinse off in the decontamination chamber.” This was a standard greeting on this planet. The clothes remained on and you rinsed the rain off your clothes hair and safety equipment. 

“Thank you,” I said. “Do you know me?”

“Not a clue.” He said smiling. “If you are on the run from the Galiasians then join the club.” He leaned forward, “We have three rules in this camp. First, don’t identify yourself. No sense in causing unnecessary alarm. Second, don’t murder or maim. Third, don’t take what doesn’t belong to be you. Essentially, have a moral compass that faces towards true north. We can’t stay here forever but it’s a good place to rest your head until waking hours.”

“That seems fair but can I ask why this camp exists if you abandon it during waking hours?” I asked. 

“It is for people like you.” He said as he pulled out a scroll. “Have you ever heard tales of the ship travels?”

I began the decon and said, “No. Was there any interesting tales?”

“The tales read like a history book of earth.” He said.

“But the history books from earth were destroyed and left on earth when we left.” I said in confusion. 

“That’s the Galiasian’s words. The history books were kept and brought on the Mercurian’s ship. The Mercurians arrived on left over ship parts assembled by the smartest of the Mercurians. The Galiasians built there ships with new materials. The rich flew with the Galiasians. The hope was that the poor wouldn’t survive. When the Mercurians followed the rich thought they could utilize the poor for medial tasks. Much like the pilgrims who left England for religious purposes as poor individuals. And the pilgrims who left England for further riches. The separation happened again.” He grabbed a textbook out of his rucksack. As he opened it I exited the decon. I sat down in a chair near the old man. 

“This is fascinating but why did you bring up the old tales?” I asked. 

“The interesting thing is that the Mercurians speculating that a child army would be raised of both groups, rich and poor. This army would overthrow the rich group and restore earth styled equality. This is the beginning.” He said looking in my direction.

I began shaking my head. “No… I don’t think I can unite the evil Mercurians and the pure Galiasians…”

The old man let out a loud laugh. “You are running to the evil Mercurians. Maybe you should live amongst them for a year. You may change your perception.”

“And how do I blend in? Do I cut my hair? Should I carry a blade?” I said worriedly. “I don’t want to be outed as a Galiasian.”

“Carry a Blade if it makes you feel safer. However, don’t use it unless threatened first. And your hair looks like everyone else’s. But if you want a hair cut feel free. They just humans like you.” He snorted.