Fiction by Josh

“2112”

                                        (Based on the Rush album, “2112”)

The year is 2102. We are here on our final days of Earth. The planet that we have lived on for thousands of years, we now must leave. Compared to the dinosaurs, we have only been around for a small amount of time, and have already destroyed our home. Why couldn't we have been more like the dinosaurs? They were so unintelligent and clueless that they did nothing to harm our home. Well, it is time to leave. We were not prepared for this. Scientists were constantly searching everyday for a suitable home. Astronomers are losing hope in science itself. No other planet fit our Goldilocks effect. We didn't have enough time. Global climate change has become too extreme. Even our fallout shelters in Antarctica have become uninhabitable. We need more time. The scientists have chosen the planet Mars. Droids were sent several years ago to establish our colony. They built these massive domes made of clear plastic. They named this colony Syrinx. We won't all fit. There just wasn't enough time. Each country has selected random citizens to live in our new home. I was one of those who were selected.

December 14, 2102

My name is Larry Beard. I live in a small house in Santa Cruz, California. Well, that’s where I used to live. I am aboard the U.S.S. Exodus, rocketing through space at a velocity of 127,000 miles per hour. This shuttle was built for 250,000 people, 5,000 animals, and various plants. The journey to Mars can be as fast as a week. However, with our large shuttle, it will take us 10 years. They don’t want me writing this. All evidence of Earth must be destroyed and erased. Our future generations will not learn that Earth has existed. Why? Any information of Earth could lead to total collapse of our society. All items and technologies that could’ve lead to the downfall of Earth have been destroyed. There is a private room aboard this shuttle for the government officials to debate. They are still deciding how they want to govern our new civilization. Any past governments have proved to be faulty. There will be no democracy, nor will there be anarchy. This is all I know so far.

July 4, 2107

It’s been five years since my last journal entry. Things have been going pretty smooth. I have learned the secrets of the government. They call themselves the Priests of Syrinx. Droids on Mars have built these massive libraries known as the Temples. Here, they stow away any item or invention that could threaten the government. The only technology available to the masses is a list of simple machines. It seems so silly that with our level of technology on Earth, we find ourselves using screws, ramps and such in order to do work.  In just a short time, we will arrive on the new Home.

February 12, 2112

As we begin our week-long descent to the surface of Mars, I have been caught. My journals have been confiscated. The Priests have decided to throw me over. I get down to my knees and beg to just spend a couple hours on my new Home before being executed.

February 16, 2112

They have decided to let me live for the next 4 days. Now, we are just kilometers away from the surface. (The Priests would even persecute me for continuing to use the metric system since it has been replaced by the galactic system).

February 19, 2112

There was no time to document these past few days. All I can say is that I am ashamed of my race. They are brainwashed. The mindless masses walk around like a herd of goats everyday. They all wear the Red Star on their arm and pledge allegiance to the Solar Federation 3 times a day. Since our colony is too small to efficiently fit our entire population, the government has established laws stating that only certain people can be out and about at certain times of day. The population density is outrageous. The tree seeds we have brought have not yet been planted. Houses are built of metals from the old periodic table. This is what I have seen these past 3 days. Tomorrow, the Priests will come for me. They will crucify me on the statue of the Red Star of our Solar Federation. Every citizen will be there to watch. They will watch the killing of a man who tried to preserve the past; a man who tried keep our culture, science, and way of life alive. They will set an example out of me. For any man who brings the slightest threat to the government will face the wrath. 

The morning of February 20, 2112

Just think of what my life might be

In a world like I have seen!

I don't think I can carry on

Carry on this cold and empty life.

~Geddy Lee, Rush, "2112"

I have escaped the city of Syrinx. I took my airtight suit and ran away. I found a hole in the dome and escaped the colony. All last night, I ran across kilometers of uncharted Martian desert, thirsting and starving, until I found this place. A waterfall pours water into a small lake. The waterfall covers a small cave. They didn't think water existed on Mars. This is impossible. I tell myself that water doesn't exist on Mars. I was too thirsty to care. I drank the fluid, which did not taste like water. I was in big trouble. Even if I made it back to the colony, they would have me executed immediately. With the slightest chance they spare me and let me live, I would once again become exiled from society. The poisonous liquid begins to reach my organs. I decide to bury my writings in this cave, and write signs on the wall. My only hope is that some brave man will reach this cave and awaken the future generations. As the life begins to fade away from my eyes, I begin to think. Ashamed of my society, I was. However, I realized that nothing has changed since Earth. I have found that Earthlings are just as brainwashed and controlled as we are. They wake up, work all day, go to sleep, and repeat the next day. This goes on everyday as humans constantly contribute to the greater good of the world. When it comes to my old country of America, school students would pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States, as if to assure the government of their loyalty. Teachers will force students to pledge, and by pledging, students promise not to rebel. There was a man once, so many years ago. His name was Jesus Christ. Now, as a naturalist, I never personally believed in him. In the stories however, he helped awaken his people by spreading love and compassion to everyone around him. The story ends when he is crucified on the Cross. I can compare myself to this man, fictional or not. They made an example out of him like they want to make an example out of me. The life is leaving my body. Goodbye.