BURN THE DEAD: Chapter One- Isolation

Sixty Two Years Later...1

Life beyound the dome is grim and gray, or so the story goes.2

This place, I call my home, my prision, and even my sanctuary. It is the place of my birth and will be the place of my death. I have lived a life of servitude and of solitude. I have felt envy towards those who are free to live out their lives as they see fit, but I was not intended to live such a life. My life is that of observation and calulations, to study and report. My existence has left me longing for life outside this place, to see the world through unfiltered eyes, to know things long forgotten. This is my dream, even though I have been told that I can not dream, for my work is my only purpose. But to exist without dreams is not really living at all. 3

My name is Adam, and I am alive.4

Chapter One: Isolation5

The number two monorail speeds through the blackness of an underground tunnel. The mono moves with near total silence as it races along its magnetic track, a steady hum of electrical current is the only sound that echos through the tunel. Inside the passenger cars, the hologen lights flicker for a breif, almost un-noticable moment. Men and women quietly sit on white fiberglass benches, awaiting the next stop so that they may begin their day. The walls of the passenger cars are lined with monitors displaying various programs of propaganda. 6

One man gazes at the monitor closest to him, watching yet not quite paying attention as two men dressed in near identical suits talk about a recent advancement in pharmaceutical drugs.7

"Dr.Baker," The man on the left and host of the program begins. "would you say this new 'miracle drug' is in fact proven to slow the aging process?"8

"Well, Mr.Taylor, as we all are aware, the Administration of Wellness and Stability have made it their goal to acheive the best possible ways to battle SR and make all our lives safer. One way of doing that is to slow the aging process. This drug targets areas of the brian and other areas of the body that lead to aging, and eventually death. The AWS would not be so confident to release this drug to it's citizens if they were not 100% satisfied by its affectiveness. I need not to remind you, that our true goal here is to slow the aging process, even to the point of a complete halt. This drug is merely the first step in acheiving that goal."9

"So are you saying that the pharmaceutical divison is within reach of eliminating death?"10

"Well, I didn't say that. Maybe eliminating the causes of natural death, perhaps. But there is no drug that can cheat death entirly, there will always be 'accidential deaths'." The man on the right crossed his legs to get more comfortable.11

"So your confident that the AWS will acheive this goal with in say, the next ten years?"12

"I can't say for sure," The man on the right said with a laugh."But if you look at the fact that in the past forty five years since Eden 2's completion, the average life expectency has increased by over 200%! Something scientist couldn't do before 'DAY ZERO'."13

"Yes, but some citizens are still concerned about the Administration's discrestion when it comes to genitic research...."14

Richard Gains looked away from the monitor and to the window as the number two monorail exited from the underground tunnel and out into the open. 15

"Bright and sunny," Richard said, bobbing his head down with a faint smile. "just like every other day." The Sound coming from the monitor died away as Richard's atteniton was drawn to what was outside the window. The sky was blue and partly cloudy as it always was and the day had just begun. Of course everyone knew there was really no sky at all, only a simulation of a blue sky displayed on the massive inner pannels of the dome walls. The creators of Eden 2's interior thought it best to have a veiw of the outside world, though no one had even seen what the outside looked like in over fifty years.16

Eden 2 was a vast dome city that would rivial any major metropolis that had existed before DAY ZERO, there were skyscrapers as well as underground structures. The skyscrapers reflected the artifical sky off their flawless metal panes. Even when trying to find them, there was no hint of being inside a massive dome designed to keep everything out, and everyone in.17

Eden 2 had been completed nearly twenty years before Richard had been born, it's predessor, Eden 1, had originally been designed as an isolated habitat. It had later been converted for human occupation once 'DAY ZERO' had arrived. Eden 1 was now at the center of Eden 2, housing the headquarters of the Administration of Wellness and Stability. While the glass pannels had been disaseembled, the suppoert arches of the outter-shell remained.18

Richard had been born inside the dome, and had often wondered like so many others what the outside world was like. The old timers always said it was a dark and chaotic place, full of unspeakable horrors and dangers. The world had been sweep by some sort of disease, they called it 'Spontanious Reanimation', as it was the only way to classify it. One day, seemingly out of nowhere, people who died began to come back to life as mindless cannibalistic monsters. It didn't matter how they died, whether they had died in their sleep or was killed by one of the undead. Sixty Two years later, SR still existed. For years the leaders of Eden 2 have been coming up with new ways to cheat death, to expand the length of peoples lives. In a sense, they had done just that.19

If there was one word to describe life in Eden, it was orderly. Every aspect of life had been plotted out to the most minute detail, from birth to death, there was some sort of protocol or procedure to follow. When a child was born, they were screened for genetic defects. At six months, a child was given the first of a seris of anouchulations(which a person would receive all through out life). By age two, a child would already have undergone a physical examination to determin their best possible work placement. At age four, a citizen would undergo an intellitcual evaluation and thus begin their educational training based on thier IQ and psychological profile. By the time Richard was twelve years old, it had been determined the he would be an engineer and by age fourteen, he had began his 'job training'.20

Now he was almost thirty years old, and everyday Richard lived out his life in content. Everyday he woke up, took his daily supplements(As required by all citizens), took a shower, got ready for work, ate breakfeast, and left to catch the Number Two monorail to work. While on the mono, he would see the CITIZEN REPORT, as it broadcasted everyday day over the INTERLINK. 21

The monorail arrived at Richard's stop at 8:58am, just as it did everyday. Richard gathered up his things and placed them in his satchal (Another requirement), and got off the number two car and out into the street. 22

As Richard stepped out into the street, the first thing he saw was a large red cylinder with black and yellow stripes, there was a large metal door on the front, and in bold white lettering read:23

FOR YOUR SAFTEY AND PROTECTION
BURN THE DEAD24

Another required regulation of Eden 2. There were some very strict rules when concerning the unexpected passing of a citizen.
Rule number one: The body must be destroyed.
Rule Number two: You will have no longer than seven minutes to destroy the body.
Rule number three: All personal belongings must be retained.
Rule Number four: Sudden death and desposial must be reported to the Administration of Wellness and Stability.25

The city was litterd with these Red cylinders, large shafts that led to an underground furnese. Next to each clyinder and a box box, and inside the black box was a body bag and restraints. At age 10, every citizen underwent what was known as Quick Response Procedure. Ever child was trained on how to secure the body, place it in the body bag, and how to dispose of it in one of the cylinders. The first generation of children born inside Eden 2 dubbed them 'death tubes', but were commonlly referred to as Incenerators. 26

Richard wondered about rule number two, and having no longer than seven minutes to burn the body. He knew it meant that SR could take effect within seconds, depending on the cause of death. He had never actually had to to do it, as most people live well into there hundred and more often than not died in their sleep. Accidential deaths were rare these days, and no one ever dared to take the life of another, as it would most likely result in their own demise.27

Besides the numerous incenerators through out the city, Eden 2 was much like a real city, complete with shopping malls and coffee shops and all the comadities you might expect of a busseling metropolis. Richard always stopped by the nearest coffee shop before heading to work. 28

Richard walked up to the counter and got the usual, the casheir gives him the total and Richard places his hand in a metal tube, a light passes through, scanning a microchip that had been implated at the time of birth. On this microchip, all his personal information is stored, his name, his address, his work title, and his credit balance. A calm, friendly male voice tells him that the charge of two credits is approved and to have a healthy and safe day.29

He walks out of the coffee shop just in time to see a large monitor mounted on a building, the CITIZENS REPORT is coming to an end.30

"Alright ladies and gentlemen, it is now time for our weekly broadcast from Professor Ian Shaw, our good friend and appointed Head Administrater." says Mr.Taylor, then the screen cuts out for a brief moment, showing the word INTERLINK in bold golden letters.31

An elderly man appears on the screen, a face every citizen of Eden 2 knows, it's Ian Shaw. Every man, woman and child stops what they are doing and looks upwards towards the closest monitor. Thousands stand in the street, people watch frominsode the monorail cars, inside buildings and homes, people watch as their great leader(some who may even call him sheppard) begins his broadcast. 32

"Good morning, and good health." He begins, while sitting at an elegant desk of cherry wood and oak. 33

"Today marks the forty seventh year of the completion of our great socity. Everyday we meet new challanges, which we all face head on." Ian Shaw says as Richard stands wathcing along with the others34

"Saddly, Spontainous Regeneration still exists, and even though we fight to discover a cure to this horrible plague, we must always be aware of its dangers. Everyday brings us closer to our goals. We must always remember that we are the only hope for humanity, Within our walls, we have survived, have pursavered, and through fortune and good faith, the pulse of progress remains steady. But the world outside our haven is dark and grim, humanity struggle outside these walls. I have personally witnessed the many horrors the outside world has to offer. So I am thankful for the safety and stabillity of our home; I only ask that each of you do the same. Outside Eden 2, the monstrousities of SR rampage through fallen cities unchallagened. Everyday thousands parish, adding to the unimaginable numbers of undead that rule the outside. Even now they may be at our walls."35

Richard pictured hundreds, maybe even thousands of undead surrounding the massive dome of Eden 2. He was sure everone else was as well, and wondered if that was what Ian Shaw wanted them to think.36

"Within our walls we are safe from the outside world." Shaw said in a fatherly-like voice.37

"But we must remain vigilant!" Shaw said, balling his hand into a fist.38

"We must never forget that the dangers out there," Shaw extends his arm outwards, as if pointing to the entire world outside the dome. "can always sweep our great home at a moments notice!" Knowing the braodcast is near its end, Richard continues on his way to work.39

"Together we shape the future. The fate of the human race is in our hands. I wish you all long lives and good health." The broadcast ends, replaced once again by the bold golden letters of the word INTERLINK40

"Both inspiring and fear provoking. What kind of man does it take to invoke such opposing emotions at once?" Richard asked himself.41

42