Chapter 20

For thousands of years, people would look back on the era just ended as a golden age, until it was lost by the collective consciousness of humanity. The stories would become legends, losing accuracy with each retelling, parchment fading and crumbling as languages changed, the only evidence of past glory ancient cities of glass, the slick material of the colossal edifices refusing to decay, some rumouring they were haunted. This was the tendency of all humanity to look back at its past in awe and wonder, much like the individual looks back on their own past with nostalgia, regardless of whether or not that past was better or worse.

The people of that time were not to know just how dire their situation was just yet; and this was the eternal optimism of humanity. Satellites fall, but tomorrow will be another day; a better day. All that those on this world, and others in that bubble various humanities scattered across it termed the universe, lost their Fire of Prometheus, electricity. Over the space of a few hours, the Llul line raced back, faster than light, arriving before the knowledge of it moving was even detected. It wasn't information travelling through space; it was a fundamental change to the rules. They were being righted again.

***

The lights in Jeren and Brill's rooms wouldn't turn on. Not just their rooms; the entire complex, but they didn't know that yet. Swearing, Jeren picked up his notepad to file a complaint. That wouldn't turn on either. When the power had gone out, the current that powered the windows had stopped, so the tint gradually faded, allowing light in again. Luckily he had pyjamas on. Usually he and Brill slept without them and didn't put any on until later. Some strange premonition had led taken them last night, neither had felt safe. They wouldn't admit it to each other, but they still added that extra layer of protection between them and the world.

“Something's wrong with the power, Brill. They're probably doing maintenance or something. And my notepad is dead. Could you see what's going on?”

“Okay.” She called from the bedroom. The power outage meant they'd have to go out for breakfast; none of their appliances would work. Some people kept fresh food that didn't need cooking, but not a modern couple like Jeren and Brill. No way. They cooked everything.

She called again. “Mine isn't coming on either. Weird!”

They took turns taking cold showers. Usually they'd be snappy, grinding on each others nerves with a day that started like this, but they felt surprisingly free. Uplifted. They didn't share this with each other either. They were both closed people, unwilling to share themselves with others, and similarly unwilling to receive. People could hurt you if you let them in, it was better to just shut them out entirely. They felt good today, but not good enough to change their personality.

Their door was unpowered, so they had to open it manually. They took physical keys with them as well, in case the door didn't work when they got back. The hall and the walk out of this centre in their complex was deathly quiet; too many people depended on alarms to awaken. Without realising it, they were walking hand in hand by the time the reached the exit. A small group of people had congregated there.

“I wonder what's going on,” Jeren thought out loud.

“Not sure,” replied Brill, before walking up to the crowd and tapping someone on the shoulder, “do you know what's happening?”

“The whole complex seems to have lost power.”

“Oh, do you know why they didn't tell us?”

“No. It's really odd. No-one's notepads or any other electronics are working.”

“Thanks,” Brill walked back to Jeren. “Power is out all over the complex, electronics don't work.”

“I've heard of a thing called an E.M.P. Which can do that. They used to use them in the old wars. They could power down an entire city, short-circuiting the electronics or something.”

“Well, I doubt that's happened. Maybe there was an accident. Can we get out do you think?”

“I'm not sure.”

Silently sharing the same thought, they went up to the door out so they could travel to their respective jobs. Two members of the complex authorities, proudly sporting black and gold Protect-U jackets, stood in the doorway.

“You two want to get out?”

“Yeah. We need to go to work.” That was Brill.

“No can do. The door isn't opening. We're trying to get it fixed.”

Hungry and dissatisfied, they sat, leaning their backs against the polysilicate walls of their centre. This was one of the larger complexes on one of the largest islands – Blackwood Island – and therefore one of the largest cities – Blackwood City. When this complex – Salamander Bay Complex, Blackwood – was originally built, it had the latest and greatest technologies, but that was years ago. Personal desalinators and piezoelectric floors were standard fare these days. Old hat even. Now too many people crowded the hallways of Salamander Bay Complex, too many large families filled its rooms. Poorer people lived there, the rich electing to live in the newer Silver Sun complexes, of which most islands had at least one. Herds of the Fold had moved in in recent years, or maybe it just seemed that way as they stood out so much. A member of that strange cult approached now.

The standard question from one of the Protect-U officials at the gate. “You want to go outside?”

“No, I'd like to open the door.”

The official stared quizzically. “Wise guy huh?”

“You could at least let me try. What's the worst that could happen?”

A feeling of peace had descended on the crowd as this man in black clothing had arrived, slowly settling in as he talked softly with the authority man.

“Well, I guess that would be okay.”

The Foldian bowed slightly and smiled, then turned towards the door. He reached out and touched it in the centre, not touching the handle. It slid open gently.

Surprised, the Protect-U authority man who had spoken earlier gaped, “how did you...?”

The Foldian smiled again. “Perhaps I will teach you.” He turned to the crowd. “There is much to learn. Our way of life is over, Life must be embraced again. Now that electricity is not in the way, we can use the strength of our life force to do many things that we once used electricity for.”

For many, this was the first experience they had had of that enigmatic group, the Fold, and though none converted to that religion that day, the process had begun.