When I first came into the world, life was abundant. In our closed-off dome, called Edith, nothing is left up to chance. Since the Earth was poisoned years ago, a team of scientists built our dome to protect us from the toxic environment, they built it to be a sanctuary. Our lead scientist calls it “Quae Summa Potestas;” when translated from Latin this means, “Total Control Over Everything.” This ideal is the foundation of Edith and our society. One of our traditions is that we receive our jobs with our names at birth. My name is Nava Starling, apprentice to the most groundbreaking scientist in modern history. This is my story.
The year is 2638, and in the early hours of the morning, notes of a soft piano refrain float throughout my pod, rousing me from my slumber. As I sit up and look around my room, subconsciously tracing the hexagonal patterns etched into my ceiling and walls, I feel like I’m in a bubble, impenetrable and untouchable. As I stand and stretch, I gaze out my window as mist overlays the earth; dew forming glistening swords from the grass. Monstrous insects soar like birds through the air. “Good Morning Miss Nava, I am preparing your breakfast and will remind you that you have to leave for work in two hours,” the disembodied voice of Lens, my personal A.I. chimes.
A few minutes later, I settle down for breakfast, grabbing a remote to turn on the holographic television, the news playing in the background. I am not really paying attention until a report catches my ears. “At 7 o'clock this morning, three men were found dead outside of their pods. Doctors are baffled at the deaths of these 20-40-year-olds and will report back with any new inform-” Lens interrupts, “Miss, I'm terribly sorry to interrupt, but Titus is here to escort you to Dr. Sine’s Laboratory.” “It’s alright Lens,” I reply, tying up my brunette hair. “I was just packing up.” Grabbing my bag, I rush out the door and run into my best friend. After our greetings, we continue walking to the lab through the winding halls of Edith.
As we walk, I can’t help glancing up at Titus. His blond hair is disheveled from a lack of sleep, accompanied by dark circles under his eyes, his face covered in slight blemishes. In spite of all these imperfections, I still love him. What could I do without him? “So Nava,” Titus begins, “I had a thought-” “Oh no,” I interrupt, mock fear covering my face. “I swear it will be a good one this time,” he confidently remarks, “no injuries or casualties.” We laugh as we continue on our way.
Finishing our banter, we arrive at the towering gateway of Dr. Sine’s Laboratory, which is a beacon of light in science and medical research. Walking in, I spy the doctor with the three bodies of the men from the news, lying on sterile, steel autopsy tables. Hesitantly, Titus and I walk over to the quirky, yet revolutionary, scientist. Robots and A.I.s wizz around us; the sounds of the machines are almost deafening, and with all the activity, the lab could’ve been described as a hurricane. The doctor’s assertive voice pulled me from my thoughts, “Morning novices. As you can see, we have a doozy on our hands. These healthy lads perplexingly keeled over this morning; now we need to learn why.” With that, we begin our autopsies.
About three hours into the examinations, a nurse from the infirmary breathlessly rushes into the lab. “What’s wrong, my dear?” Dr. Sine inquired, confusion present on his face. “I ha-I have news fro-from the infirmary,” she panted. She told us that people were coming in sickly and pale, even the strongest medicine couldn’t save them from dying.
“Doctor, we need you and your team on this case. The symptoms range from coughs and fevers to malaise and paralysis. The worst part, we don’t know what’s causing it, who’s infected, or how it’s spread. We noted that symptoms tend to start after about a day of infection,” she informs us. “This is-it is…” she wheezes, her glassy eyes rolling back into her head. It suddenly struck me. She was infected! The last thing I see is her body lifelessly falling towards the previously sterile floor.
As I watch, I don’t pay any mind to the quarantine door cutting its way across the room. When I finally notice, the door is already locked, barricading me from the outside world.
“Titus,” Sine advised,
“Check Edith’s mainframe to determine the loss of life thus far.”
After a moment, Titus appeared mortified, “Doctor, I’m afraid we’re the only ones left.”
After the initial shock of realizing we are the only three still alive, we begin to research what has happened, and why. Trial after trial. Failure after failure. We never gave up.
Several days later, I wake up and hear a fit of coughing from across the room. The disquieting noise came from my mentor, Dr. Sine. “NO!” I scream as I rush over. But Titus encases me in his arms.
Wheezing, the doctor pleaded, “Get away, I won’t have you die too. You are the only ones left.”
Tears stream down my face as I weep, I claw the air trying to escape Titus’s iron grip. As I stop for a moment, Titus lessens his grip, I swiftly break his hold and run over to my dying mentor. Kneeling on the cold ground, I hear Sine’s hoarse voice over my sobs.
“Nava, I can’t do this anymore. I’m not fine. I know I said I was but I’m not. At least… I’ll see the others soon.” With that, the doctor takes his last breath.
The next day, I learn of my fate. It started with coughing, then I start to convulse and feel the paralysis taking over my limbs.
As time goes on, a tiredness weighs on me like lead. Yet through my struggles, Titus works tirelessly by my side and I know he’d stay, even after the end. It’s like what my parents told me years ago, ”Love goes on, Nava; even after death.”
I can feel it, it is time. As I close my eyes, I see my life before me. From my early childhood with my parents to walking with Titus to work only six short days ago.
In my last moments, I hear a faint, distant sound, and something is pressed against my lips. “Nava,” Titus calls softly, “Drink this. Come back to me. I can’t live without you.”
As I drink, a warmth flows through my veins. I feel a tingling in my limbs and I start to feel weightless; it feels as if I am floating. Slowly, I come down and the tingles stop, everything is still…and my eyes open.