Chapter One

20 February 3160

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Welcome to Oasis, Adam Smith.   Press [0] to access Personal Logs. Press [1] to access Personal Records. Press [2] to access Oasis Records. Press [3] to access Administrative Commands. Press [4] to access Worker Manual. Press [5] to access Worker Logs. Press [6] to access Worker Lists and Shift Records.

 

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Welcome to Oasis! Built from 3149 to 3159, this structure exists for the sole purpose to protect the citizens inside. Due to exterior heat, plasteel locks have been placed at the exit to keep citizens from getting out and the heat from getting in. The great Adam Smith, our leader, sends you his sincere congratulations for being one of the 2000 to make it inside. Enjoy your stay.

 

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Welcome to Oasis, Adam Smith.   Press [0] to access Personal Logs. Press [1] to access Personal Records. Press [2] to access Oasis Records. Press [3] to access Administrative Commands. Press [4] to access Worker Manual. Press [5] to access Worker Logs. Press [6] to access Worker Lists and Shift Records.

 

Accessing Personal Logs. . .

 

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[1] Opening Day – February 20th, 3160 [2] Day Two – February 21st, 3160 [3] Day Three – February 22nd, 3160 [4] Day Four – February 23rd, 3160 [5] Day Ten – February 29th, 3160 [6] Day Fifteen – March 5th, 3160 [7] Day Thirty-One – March 21st, 3160 [8] Problem – June 3rd, 3160 [9] One Year! – March 1st, 3161 [10] Evelyn – April 19th, 3161 [11] Two Years! – March 1st, 3162 [12] Three Years – March 1st, 3163 [13] Engine Shutdown – October 28th, 3163 [14] Technical Issues – December 24th, 3163 [15] Four Years – February 29th, 3164 [16] Celebration – March 15th, 3164 [17] Disease – July 30th, 3164 [18] Revelation – September 23rd, 3164 [19] Deaths – December 31st, 3164 [20] Five Years – March 1st, 3165 [21] Last Log – April 3rd, 3165

 

Accessing Opening Day – February 20^th, 3160

 

            The beautiful Canadian countryside is visible as Adam Smith, wearing casual business attire, speaks to the camera. All around is a crowd of people covering every square inch of the field, rioting to get in. A steady stream of them are making their way toward Oasis. Tearful goodbyes are made all around the area, and men in body armor are keeping the crowds back.

“As you can see, the crowds out here are insane. I should have known that people wouldn’t be happy if they didn’t get one of the tickets. Damn it, I wish that those other guys in Tokyo had stuck with the deal and made another bunker out in Japan. With the volcanoes in that area, they could have had an amazing amount of power. 

            “I’m not sure we’re going to be able to keep Oasis opened up to the outside for this entire day. The military squadron that was sent to keep the rioters back is doing a good job, but I’ve seen a couple of them eyeing the elevator, wondering if they could get in. I made sure that the people who got the tickets drawn are the only ones to get in. I got nearly two thousand phone calls after the drawings a couple of weeks ago, and I made sure that I could get their information. Social Security Numbers were the most important. The elevator will scan them based on the information that the number got me, and only those who were drawn will get in.

            “I’m not stupid. I know the look of somebody sneaking in. It’s different than a person who did get their ticket drawn, then had the ticket get lost or stolen. An acted indifference looks a lot different than sheer desperation and panic. I’ve already turned ten people away and let in five people who didn’t have their tickets.

            “The countryside is beautiful, as it always has been. It’s sad to know that this is the last day that we’ll get to see it. Some people are crying, wanting to stay with their families. That makes me feel the worst. I can’t stand to see people leaving their parents or siblings behind. It really is heartbreaking to see them knowing that this is the last time they’ll see these people. At least some can call upon their faith. That helps.

            “I’ll keep recording for a while, because I don’t want to lose any sense of what it is to look at a green landscape and a sky covered with our atmosphere. It’ll be hundreds of years before another living human being makes his way onto the surface. God help us.

            “One last thing,” Adam Smith turns the camera toward the crowd, and steps onto a pedestal to speak to them. “People! Yes, please, quiet down. Thank you for coming today. I am Adam Smith,” a cheer erupts from the crowd, as if they’ve just realized who he is. “Please, don’t applaud me. I’m just up here to ask you to calm down. Those with tickets get in first. Any who don’t show will be replaced with family members of those inside, and we’ll keep going like that until we reach the optimum capacity. I’m sorry that we can’t fit more of you, but the more you cooperate, the faster this will all be done.”

            Stepping down off the pedestal, Smith speaks to the camera again. “I think we’ll end the cast for today, as the last ticket holders are going through. We’re about one hundred short, so some lucky people will be allowed inside. I’ll have to be present for the sorting, so I override the elevator’s security system. I’ll leave the camera recording until we’re finished.”

            The rest of the video consists of Smith and a couple of security guards allowing people inside. After the counter on top of the elevator reaches 1999, Smith comes back for the camera. “Alright. Log one over.”

 

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Reviews

[Yana Larson]

This log excerpt sets the tone for a dystopian narrative, establishing a sense of urgency and isolation right from the first entry. The narrator, Adam Smith, comes across as both pragmatic and empathetic, aware of the severity of the situation while still making efforts to manage the chaos of the crowds outside Oasis. The detailed recounting of his decisions, from handling the rioters to carefully managing who gets inside, reveals his authoritative and calculated nature. The emotional undercurrent of the situation—saying goodbye to loved ones, the desperation of those left outside—adds depth to the moment, blending practicality with a subtle emotional strain.

The writing feels grounded and purposeful, effectively conveying the gravity of the event and the difficult choices made in such a dire scenario. Adam’s reflections on the Canadian countryside, and the realization that they are the last humans on the surface, are poignant, creating a bleak, almost tragic atmosphere. The methodical nature of the writing, particularly the log structure, reinforces the sense of recording history for future reflection or documentation.

Overall, this log entry gives a strong, impactful first impression of the world inside Oasis, setting up the high-stakes survival scenario. The tone is direct, but the emotional weight is palpable in the pauses between the practical decisions, making it effective for drawing readers into a world on the brink of drastic change.

[Stephen Tyler Overcash]

I like the concept of reading a book through the eyes of an anonymous computer user accessing commands and video files.

I will be interested to see how you are able to keep the reader from wanting to skip large portions of the book that look like menu selections? Maybe that doesn't matter? If not, you will need to make sure the meat of the content is strong enough.

Just this opening part definitely makes me want to read chapter two, so I would say mission accomplished on chapter one.

[Michael Raymond Robinso..]

Interesting concept, we as the readers seeing past events through the eyes of a recording as obviously someone is sitting there next to us watching as well, the question being; Who? Adam Smith?
The titles off the logs listed in the five year period also provide a sneak peak and even draw cursiousity as the the contents of said logs.
I'll be reading the rest.