Light of the World

In a future where “politically correct” is a forgotten term, Lux resolves to enlighten the self-exiled people of Antarctica and possibly, in the end, enlighten the world.

Light of the World

    

It is the autumn of 2099 with the One World Earth People poised to proudly stride across the threshold of the new millennium. Worldwide upheavals have altered the world to its’ present state along with an altered human race content to simply carry on. This impassive population has stabilized at the lowest level since the extreme overpopulation of the mid twenty-first century when the volatile period of discontent, uncertainty, and turmoil caused social, economic, political, and climatic changes. Since then, many major problems have been rectified with medical breakthroughs, social equality, and the curtailing of rampant famine. The latter has miraculously taken place despite the strained and few agricultural acres due to significantly elevated sea levels.

To maintain a perfect social order, the world’s people live in conformity under the watchful eye of the World Earth Council (WEC). All terms and actions that once divided people have long been erased and forgotten by the World Earth inhabitants.  Everyone is considered equal due to the close tending of every single human on the wondrous Cerebralnet (CNET) except those who have chosen to exile themselves to the Forbidden Enclave on the continent of Antarctica. All seems well on the surface for outward peace cloaks the truth underlying the One World Earth Order.

We pick up our story with Lux, a typical young teenager of the era conceived and born eugenically perfect in this world where only one child is permitted per couple. Lux balances on the verge of disrupting the perfect world order.

 

                “Lux, kindly return your focus to our most important studies,” Lux’s virtual instructor said soullessly.  “I hope you can find our subject matter worthy of your utmost attention and fulfilling to your educational needs for many hours have been applied in the development of this curriculum. Can you please rejoin us?”

                Lux’s black eye lenses flickered before retracting to reveal hirs genetically encoded emerald green eyes. Lux sighed, flicked hirs fingers through perfect red hair and gave the instructor a slight smile. “Of course, Instructor Clove.”

The instructor returned to the day’s presentation covering the history of the twenty-first century. “This lesson could prove disturbing to some, so stop me if you experience anxiety.” Zhe scanned the students. “Fine, then. It was well into the middle of the century when the Earth experienced the brunt of climate change despite the world’s well-intentioned though wholly inadequate efforts to curb the serious global warming. Later in the same period, the massive detonations of World War III caused an inclination in the Earth’s rotation. This event exacerbated the already serious climatic changes causing acceleration in the melting of the North and South Pole’s icepacks. As a result, ocean levels rose significantly.”

  Lux’s friend, Skylar, who had contacted herm before, buzzed in to continue the chat, but Lux rapidly blinked twice to postpone the contact. Five other virtual students paid close attention to the lecture, but as usual Lux wasn’t all that interested. After some boring minutes, zhe heard something that snapped hirs attention back to class.

“…the Forbidden Enclave established their camp on the Continent of Antarctica in 2055 after separating from The One World Earth Order�"”

Lux zealously gestured and the virtual instructor acknowledged herm, “Instructor Clove, is it true that they of the enclave ignore all of the World Earth’s ways and laws purely to be divergent? School curriculum never covers the enclave in depth and even the Cerebralnet doesn’t cover much other than to restate the ban of contact with them. Are the enclave’s practices so disturbing and dangerous that we can’t be told or find out more about them? I’d like to learn more. ”

Virtual Instructor Clove furrowed hirs brow and paused before answering. “Yes indeed Lux, the WE Council feels that the enclave’s separatist ideas would pollute and disrupt the harmony of our peaceful order. Concurrently, the enclave wishes to live separately from the WE Order, so it remains a mutually passive arrangement, Lux, so that’s all we need to know, so now we�"” 

“I heard that they forbid the use of the Cerebralnet,” Lux said interrupting. “But how do they speak to one another? Do they use ancient computers and handhelds to communicate?”

“The World Earth simply doesn’t interfere, Lux, so we don’t know for sure. Certainly your

 parental units have informed you of the fact that we shouldn’t inquire into the ways of the enclave,” Instructor Clove said succinctly. “We must not dwell any longer on these exiled people who shun the World Earth Order. Now Lux, we need to return to the lesson plan which doesn’t include any further discussion of the enclave. Do you understand, Lux? Can we return to our lesson plan?” Lux dejectedly nodded in reply.

                After school finished, Lux took hirs electro-bike and whizzed home to hirs family’s home high on the Denver Cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Lux was special as an only child like all mandated single children of the World Earth, but Lux had it better seeing zhe was the scion of a World Earth Councilmember. After the brief discussion on the Forbidden Enclave, Lux had become fixated on all the questions zhe harbored surrounding their existence. Zhe became resolutely enthralled with the uniqueness of the Antarctican faction and hungered to find out more. Lux went to hirs well-furnished room and quietly accessed the Cerebralnet. 

Lux found thousands of sites mentioning the enclave with most condemning these people for not conforming to World Earth rules, but zhe found little to answer hirs nagging questions of why the enclave was there, what the enclave was like, and what they believed in. The latter unknown factor fascinated Lux even further convincing herm to find out the truth behind the enclave. Zhe didn’t know why it was so beguiling only that it was so. Lux called Skylar to discuss hirs newfound interest in the Forbidden Enclave. Skylar didn’t have a clue about the enclave but being more Cerebralnet savvy than Lux, they were soon connected with the dark underbelly of the CNET. Coupled with Skylar on the CNET, Lux’s opaque-covered eyes scanned the many sites on the graynet and caught one posted by the Render Amity Circle (RAC).

Among other issues, the underground altruist organization advocated contact with the Forbidden Enclave to enlighten them while publically acknowledging the WE rules that forbid contact. They stated that contact had not been made because of the lethal electrical barrier that the enclave had instituted surrounding Antarctica to keep intruders out. The site went on to cover all the things the RAC perceived the enclave had missed out on by not being an active part of WE Society, though primarily and publically the RAC wanted to uncover the truth behind the enclave. Lux realized zhe felt exactly same way as the RAC, but Skylar was convinced there was more the RAC sought beyond what they stated on the graynet. Through another yet darker link, zhe found the underground organization strove to secretly collect funds to actually go to Antarctica and vowed to save those poor, downtrodden, and ignorant people. At least that’s what they said.

***

The two vowed to join with the RAC to aid in the enlightenment of the Forbidden Enclave people. Through numerous clandestine contacts and multiple levels of secrecy that Skylar tracked down and worked through, Lux and Skylar make contact with the RAC.  The two made a virtual journey to meet a RAC contact on the east coast of Appalachia.

In the virtual graynet, they met up with the RAC contact named Zion. Zion informed the two that they in the RAC had already acquired sufficient funds to hire a ship and that twenty-five enthusiastic RAC members were poised to depart. Zion told them that the hour to join grew late and thought the two were too young for the proposed mission though didn’t state so in such improper language. Lux obstinately explained hirs enduring need to help those poor people and would do anything, besides making a sizable credit donation to the mission, to be part of the traveling RAC group. When Zion still refused, Skylar whispered in Lux’s ear.

Lux approached Zion’s avatar and stepped into hirs private sphere, a very offensive act. “Let me tell you how determined I am,” zhe began doggedly. “I am the scion of Councilperson Zander and demand to be taken on this humanitarian venture,” Lux told Zion. “I will expose your plan if you do not agree to our participation.”

Zion was taken aback. “What, a threat? You two must immediately break this contact and return to the normal CNET, right now!  You must not tell anyone about this contact especially your parental units. If the facts are made public, you would endanger our long-planned mission and every one of us involved. We will disavow any and all contacts with you!” Zion insisted, quickly backing away from the two. “With the whole weight of the WE Council behind a search physically and by CNET, sooner or later they will find you, and we in RAC would be incarcerated, so good bye.”

“Zion, stop and listen,” Skylar said calmly, laying a hand on Lux’s shoulder. “Lux didn’t mean to offend you, but we are very committed to being part of this venture. No one will find out if we are included; I’m savvy with a closet CNET application that provides false physical locations,” Skylar added smugly. “We can tell our parental units that we are staying at another friend’s domicile, and I can set up repeaters at her domicile so CNET searches will come up perfectly normal as if we are physically there.” Zhe paused with eyes turned to Lux. “As long as we don’t access the CNET.”

“It’s very impressive that you are able to pull that off, but still�"” Zion thought a few moments. “Well, I cannot make the final decision that is left to Lyric, but in the very least, your enthusiastic donation would be most appreciated. As for you taking part in this venture, let me tell you the facts straight; the journey promises to be long and perilous. Besides the perils and relative hardships of the journey, on the final leg there are WE patrols outside the enclave electrobarrier just to keep good-intentioned people like us out. We could be marooned, our ship could be crippled and abandoned, or we could be sunk and left to die in the cold ocean waters.”

The two considered these possibilities and regarded each other with widened eyes.  

Zion took in their demeanor. “Yes, the WE Council would command such an action whether you believe it or not. Another thing, we are leaving soon in December because it is summer down there in Antarctica and the weather is favorable. You two appear to be young people who like to party, so you’d miss out on the new millennium’s festivities as well. Wouldn’t you want to stay behind for that?”

“NO!” The two said together. “We’re committed to this venture and want to help those poor people.”

“Very well,” Zion said resolutely. “Let me inform Lyric.” Zion turned away from the two. Zhe whispered into the dark evening of the virtual environment. After a few moments, Zion’s voice rose a bit as if in an argument with Lyric, but then zhe returned to a whisper. After a couple minutes, zhe turned back to them. “I convinced Lyric to include you on the journey with the caveat that you bring sleeping cocoons and plenty of cold weather clothes; also, you will be expected to carry your weight by performing essential menial chores.” Zion studied them. “Would you two agree to that?”

                “Of course!” Said Lux excitedly. “We’ll do whatever work is required of us to be included in this venture!” Zhe turned to Skylar who after a moment’s hesitation nodded her concurrence.

They made all the necessary arrangements.

                ***         

                After numerous travel connections while remaining unconnected to the CNET, Lux and Skylar met their RAC travel mates. When they completed the first leg of their voyage readying to board the hired ship at a port in Switzerland, they met Zion and Lyric in the flesh. Lyric wasn’t as the two had expected, but nevertheless zhe bore the full weight of the venture’s magnitude and wielded an impressive level of authority. Within an hour they were underway on the Ion steamer Balthazar heading south. After a full day’s steam out in the open ocean, the heavy overcast finally parted; all aboard stood on deck with eyes lifted skyward mesmerized with the rare convergence of Mars, Venus, Saturn and Jupiter directly to the south.

***

                After four dull days, they passed the archipelago of Sed Aphrika. Throughout the voyage’s monotonous duration, Lux and Skylar found themselves preparing meagre meals and cleaning up and mopping the floors. In three more days’ time, an excited call went up across the ship telling everyone that the first warning buoys of the barrier had been spotted. The two went topside to see if Antarctica was visible, but were disappointed when they saw nothing except the bright orange-lit buoys rocking on the cold heavy surf. Skylar pointed up to Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, and Venus that hung in the southern sky, the cluster getting tighter by the day and centered about forty degrees above the horizon. Lyric spotted the two and their perceptible disappointment; zhe drew up and silently gazed at the planets with them.  

                “How much farther do we have to go?” Lux asked Lyric.

                “If you think getting this far was long and disheartening, prepare for a potential major letdown because the Electrobarrier is only fifty miles distant, which is still a hundred miles from the Antarctica coast,” Lyric said. “You do know what that barrier might mean for us and our task at hand?”

                The two nodded solemnly. “Why do they do it?” Asked Skylar.

                “Live out here under these conditions? Freedom to do as they please,’ Lyric said matter-of-factly. “If our sketchy information is correct you two are in for a real shock concerning their freedom�" that is if we make it these final harrowing 150 miles.” The two paused on that unsettling note.

                “I know that they have different practices than World Earth people and are missing out on so much,” Lux said. “But their freedom, you said? isn’t that why we’re coming? To show them the right, rational way to the whole freedom of the World Earth?”

                “Or is it to show us the right way?” Lyric said quietly. The two looked at herm askance.

                “When I asked why they do it, I meant why does the enclave have the Electrobarrier?” Skylar asked.  “Are they that afraid of being exposed to our World Earth’s practices?”

                Lyric let out an exasperated huff. “You two really don’t know the truth behind the barrier do you?”

Puzzled, they shook their heads. “Know what truth about the barrier?” Lux asked. “It’s there to keep us out.”

                “The barrier is not operated by the enclave; it’s operated by the WEC to keep people like us away from the enclave!” Lyric said, with a laugh and shake of his long-haired head. “So young impressibles like you two don’t get the wrong, according to the WEC, ideas from them!”  Lyric looked at hirs ancient wrist timepiece. “If we make it through this uncertain final leg, we should arrive just in time for you to witness their most controversial practice.”

                “Time for what�"practice?”

                “Never mind, hopefully you’ll see,” Lyric said, but immediately took on a look of shock and pointed out to sea behind them. “We have a new problem!” The two whirled about to see a small cruiser heading toward them at speed, and it was coming up fast. Lyric spoke into hirs short-range communicator, “Make full speed, NOW!”

                Within seconds they could feel a subtle acceleration and the Balthazar’s bow lifted a few degrees.

                “But the Electobarrier!” Lux said alarmed. “We can’t just charge into it�"can we?”

                “We can sure try and see what happens!” Lyric exclaimed as zhe trotted away toward the pilot house. All aboard went topside to watch the cruiser gain on them with every tense passing minute.

                *** 

                As the Balthazar bearing Lux and Skylar charged full Ion steam towards the barrier, the WE cruiser continued to close the gap. When they spotted the final buoys that charged the barrier, the cruiser hailed them and ordered them to turn away, stop, or face the consequences.  Lyric refused and gestured for the captain to press on without an answer. Within moments, a barrage of missiles rained down around them and the travelers cowered behind the bulwarks and cargo on deck to escape the missiles’ wrath. Spray, smoke, and explosions filled the air. One missile glanced off the port bow and exploded into the engine room. Smoke and flames erupted from the impact, but despite the damage they continued on, yet slower. The arc of electrobarrier buoys loomed dead ahead.

                “Shouldn’t we give up?!” Skylar shouted over the noise. “What’s going to happen to us!?”

                Lux, Skylar, Lyric, Zion, and the others stood on the deck watching and waiting. As they headed into the barrier, a static discharge like Saint Elmo’s fire engulfed the ship’s bow. The static sizzled about the steel structure beginning at the bow and steadily marched down the ship’s length yard by yard. The travelers backed away from the static wave as far as they could until the static passed under their feet. They all winced and jumped as the static sparked, zapped, and sizzled all around them. One older RAC member fell to the deck clutching hirs chest in pain and others came running to provide aid. Then, when the lights began to explode one after another down the length of the ship, they all shielded themselves to escape the shattering glass and sparks.

Nearly through the barrier, the electrical wave passed the engine room, and the remaining Ion engine abruptly went quiet. The silence seemed deafening with only the whistle of the winds and the slap of the waves on the Balthazar’s hull. In moments, they lost all forward momentum. The WE Cruiser turned and stopped just outside the barrier dipping and tipping in the waves. The cruiser hailed the ship over and over promising relief if the RAC gave themselves up, but Lyric gave an order of no reply. The RAC-hired ship Balthazar rolled and swayed completely powerless in the blustery winds and rough cold seas. They drifted a full day until a flotilla of small ships approached.

                The RAC altruists soon found that the ships originated from the Forbidden Enclave. After a few minutes of nervous introductions and explanations, the altruists disembarked from the crippled Balthazar and went with the people of the enclave. Setting foot on rocky Antarctica, they were welcomed and given food, dry clothes, and simple lodging by the exiles. Apprehensively, they chatted about noncritical topics because each side was afraid to push the long-held differences between the two peoples. Peter, one of the enclave young people around their age, befriended Lux and Skylar telling them that he’d like to show them their village.

                “You are a very pretty girl, Lux,” Peter said anxiously, as they strolled.

                “You can’t say that to herm!” Skylar scolded. “It’s not polite!”

                “Why not?” Peter said. “I find Lux attractive, and I wanted her to know. We have the freedom here to say those things we feel. We know of the restrictions in the World Earth, but here we are able to speak freely.”

                “We have freedom out there like you can’t experience here,” Lux said, with a brush off gesture. “That’s why we’re here�"to enlighten you.”

Skylar touched Lux with light fingertips. “Ah, truthfully Lux, we need to see things from his point of view,” he paused a moment nervously. “And, and I always thought you were attractive, but ah, Peter, I am attracted to you as well�"I can go either way.” Skylar smiled with his head down but gazed at them out of the tops of his eyes, suddenly shy.

Lux glanced from one to the other obviously confused. “Skylar! I never thought of�"you�"and �"me.” She swiveled to Peter and smiled but then suddenly turned serious. “Like I said, we’re here to enlighten your people.”

                “Wait a few minutes until we reach the village square, we’ll see who needs enlightening,” Peter said, picking up the pace.

                As they walked, they chatted about their individual lives and families in an effort to keep the conversation friendly and impartial.

                “Mari couldn’t believe that you were a Councilman’s daughter,” Peter brought up. “She said it must have taken some convincing for them to let you to come here.”

                “Councilperson’s scion,” Lux bitterly corrected, but Skylar put a hand on her arm and shook her head. “We didn’t tell our parental units because they would’ve never approved of being exposed to�"“

                “Take it easy, Lux. We need to mind their ways,” Skylar said.

                “But Skylar, just a little while ago�"” Lux said, but Skylar only shook her head as she gazed ahead.

                After a few moments of hearing only their steps on the dirt trail, Lux picked up the conversation. “Did I hear you correctly back there that you have three sisters and brothers? How is that possible?”

                “It’s only what comes naturally,” he said, with a shrug. “Some families are even bigger!”              

                “How can you live with�"siblings? I can’t imagine a life like that.”

                Peter only shrugged in reply as they walked on talking, and Lux noticed bright lights and voices up ahead. When they rounded the final corner to the village square Lux and Skylar froze and their eyes grew wide. They beheld a huge evergreen lit with multicolored lights and bright decorations hanging from every fence and building as people sang songs. They had never seen anything like it before.

                “What is this�"celebration? An early New Year’s celebration?”

                “NO,” Peter said. “You don’t know what today is? It is Christmas Eve!”

                “What is Christmas? We’ve never heard of it�"is it some sort of ancient pagan festival?”

                “No silly girl, it is the celebration of the birth of the Son.”  

                “You people worship the sun?”

                “Pitiful poor ignorant people of the World Earth,” Peter said. “You lost so much and don’t even realize it. They, those in power banned all ethnic and religious holidays long ago.” Peter said, shaking his head sadly. “They took everything good away from your people�"our ancestors as well.  Christmas is the most cherished holiday that they took away, the celebration of the birth of Jesus, the Son of God!”

“But�"but that’s offensive to other people who might not believe.”
“No, of course it’s not. We celebrate their holidays as well, the way it is supposed to be!”

A man and woman approached with Zion and Lyric, the woman very large with pregnancy

walking slowly while holding her middle.  

“We overheard some of your discussion,” said Zion. “What do you think about what Peter said

and all of this?”

“Unbelievable! I don’t know what to think anymore!”

“This is as we anticipated, but couldn’t say,” Lyric said. “We thought at first that you two were

 spies for the council, so we waited to see your reactions. I’m quite sure that you aren’t spies after all we’ve been through. Oh, Lux and Skylar this is Mari and Josef two of the elders of this group that we call the Forbidden Enclave.”

 “We don’t want to force our ideas onto you here and Lyric stated the same, so listen if you’d like to hear our perspective,” Mari said, pausing a moment but saw that her audience was not straying. “The Council was well-intentioned in their actions for the elimination of hate was the reason the council did what they did, but hate simply won’t end even when people are censored. Openness, freedom, and understanding are the answers to a truly harmonious world. OH!” She paused catching her breath. Josef pulled her close and supported her. “I’m so close to having our baby and, and OH! Look at the conjunction of planets! It’s almost one bright star in the sky now!” Mari paused, grimaced and held her pregnant belly. “Oh Joe! I’m getting really close!”

“Are you alright, Mares?” Josef asked, visibly concerned and supporting her. Mari straightened up with a brave nod. “It is a double miracle, dear,” Josef said, with a proud loving smile. “To have our baby�"if he waits�"and have this wondrous celestial display�"definitely�"on Christmas!” Josef exclaimed. The visitors gazed between Mari and the glow in the sky. “This Christmas will be very special for us, but with you visitors from the RAC here with us safe and sound relieves us as well. You know, you really had us worried when we spotted you outside the barrier.”

“You were worried?” Skylar said, with a smile. “We were terrified out there on the water! Being here on solid ground and seeing your celebration is such a relief�"and a joy.”

“Christmas is everyone’s celebration,” Mari said.

“But what is Christmas, exactly?” Asked Lux.  “It must have not been all that important if the council banned it over half a century ago.”

 “Christmas and all the other holidays are important to everyone, Lux, even if they hold a profound meaning to only one group of people,” Josef said. “As for what the Council and those before them did? Put it this way: you shouldn’t trample a flower to plant an evergreen; trees and blossoms can coexist in a truly peaceful world. So much has changed in the World Earth, naturally and by humanity, but harmony cannot be ensured by simply repressing people’s differences and restricting the recognition of those differences. That is what makes us individuals because differences can’t be swept away out of sight so they don’t offend others. Like Mari said, hate won’t end because you can’t say the words because hate will only build internally where it festers and grows. That’s poison to peaceful harmony, and we know that’s a hidden problem of the World Earth Order.

Christmas may be based on a single religion, but those who believe in it are expressing love with all peoples. So know truly that while you’re here, you can celebrate with us in joy, peace, and harmony because that’s the true meaning of Christmas. ”

Lux took in the decorations, the enclave people, and the wonderful heartfelt emotions they displayed and practiced. “This loving perspective must be heard across the entire World Earth,” Lux said defiantly to her RAC compatriots. “The World Earth People must be roused from their stupor, and I am just the one to do it!”

    

               

Author's Note

This is a condensed version of a young adult book idea I’m floating and explains why it seems some sections need to be extended with more telling details throughout. ‘Tis the season, Merry Christmas!