ALL NOVEL CHAPTER 92: Soylent: Green
The Earth’s Children camp was a strange mix of post-apocalyptic freedom and a relaxed, almost hippie-like vibe. In the heart of the camp, a drum circle kept a steady beat, while others lazed around, smoking weed and kicking a hacky sack made from Soylent: Green wrappers. Conversations drifted through the air, casual and carefree, as if the world hadn’t ended but had instead just shed its unnecessary complications.
“Man, can you believe how chill this place is? I thought the apocalypse would be, you know, all fire and brimstone,” one of the drummers mused, lazily tapping his bongo.
“Nah, dude, this is like... the best. No more government breathing down our necks, no rules. We can do whatever we want,” his friend replied, exhaling a cloud of smoke.
Nearby, a dreadlocked woman kicked the hacky sack to her friend, laughing as it narrowly missed his foot. “Honestly, I never thought I’d say this, but I don’t even miss the old world that much. This is so... freeing.”
“Totally,” her friend agreed, giving the hacky sack a weak kick. “It’s like we’ve been reborn. And look around—everyone’s just... happy, you know? We’re not tied down by anything anymore.”
“Worst thing? We’re kind of dirty, but who cares? Showers are overrated anyway. This is the life, man,” the first woman added, her eyes half-closed as she soaked in the sun.
“And the best part?” another voice chimed in from the circle. “No more bosses telling us what to do. We’re our own people now.”
“Preach it,” the drummer said with a lazy grin. “The apocalypse? It’s almost heaven, really.”
Clark, who had been watching all of this with barely concealed disdain, shook his head. The Earth’s Children camp wasn’t his idea of paradise, but he knew better than to voice his thoughts. Instead, he joined the hunting group, his crossbow slung over his shoulder as they trudged through the sparse woods surrounding the settlement.
The air was thick with the scent of earth and sweat, the quiet chatter of the hunters mixing with the distant rustling of leaves. Clark had become a regular in these outings, always eager to take on the hardest tasks, whether it was carrying the heaviest loads or scouting the most dangerous areas.
As they moved deeper into the forest, Clark began his usual routine, striking up a conversation with the others. “You know,” he said, keeping his voice low but making sure everyone could hear, “I’ve been thinking a lot about what’s going on over at Team Portal Crushers.”
One of the hunters, a grizzled man with a scar running down the side of his face, spat on the ground. “What about them?” he muttered, clearly uninterested.
Clark leaned in, his tone conspiratorial. “Word is, Atlas is running things like a tyrant. Probably abusing his people, taking advantage of them.”
The hunters, who had once been skeptical of Clark’s stories, now listened with interest. His consistent presence, his willingness to take on the dirtiest jobs, had earned their trust. They respected him as one of their own, and when he spoke, they listened.
“Wouldn’t surprise me,” the grizzled man said, his voice hard. “Atlas always seemed like the kind of guy who’d do anything to stay on top.”
“Exactly,” Clark agreed, nodding. “I’ve heard he’s got his people working like slaves. They’re terrified of him. And why wouldn’t they be? He’s just a power-hungry dictator, trying to build his little empire.”
Another hunter, a younger man with a nervous look, spoke up. “I don’t know, man. Atlas... he’s tough, but he’s kept his people alive. Maybe that’s just what you gotta do.”
Clark shook his head, his voice firm. “There’s a difference between being tough and being a monster. He’s crossing lines that shouldn’t be crossed. People shouldn’t have to live in fear of their leader.”
The grizzled man nodded, his expression grim. “Yeah, I’ve heard enough about dictators in my time. Doesn’t end well for anyone except for the guy at the top.”
Clark could see that his words were hitting home. ‘Good, he thought, my plan is working.‘ He needed to keep the pressure on, to sow as much doubt and distrust as possible.
After a successful hunt, Clark walked up to Olivia with a handful of coins, trying to hide the weariness behind his eyes.
“Olivia, here are the coins for today,” he said, handing them over.
“Oh, thank you. Blessed are ye. Blessed is the land,” Olivia responded, her voice filled with genuine warmth.
Clark responded with a forced smile. “While we are far from Mother Earth, she still cares and gives back to us.”
“Yes, blessed be Mother Earth,” Olivia echoed, her eyes shining with devotion. Clark managed a nod, though internally, he rolled his eyes. The piety here was relentless, but he needed to stay in Olivia’s good graces.
“We didn’t get quite as many coins as we should have,” Clark added, a hint of frustration slipping into his voice.
“That’s fine,” Olivia said calmly. “As long as we have enough food, the people are full of joy. Look.”
She gestured toward the group. Some were chatting in the drum circle, some were smoking joints, others kicking around the hacky sack. They were sweaty and stinky with the grime that came with living in the wasteland, but this was covered with their usual smell of patchouli oil and marijuana.
“They actually seem... happy,” Clark noted, trying to sound more convinced than he felt.
“With the coins we have from today,” Olivia continued, “we can finally get the building we want.”
“Oh?” Clark’s interest piqued. “What building is that?”
“We’re getting a small co-op center,” Olivia explained, her enthusiasm palpable.
Clark raised an eyebrow. “A co-op center? What’s that?”
“It’s a place where everyone can make signs, journals, and colour. It even has a small library with tips on how to live peacefully with the Earth,” Olivia said, her eyes alight with excitement.
Clark swallowed his skepticism and put on his best fake smile. “That sounds... fantastic. I love the idea of it.”
He could hardly believe the words coming out of his mouth. A co-op center in a wasteland filled with monsters and danger seemed absolutely absurd to him. But for now, playing along was the best option. He needed Olivia’s trust, and if that meant pretending to be thrilled about signs and colouring books, then so be it.
Olivia beamed at him. “I knew you’d appreciate it, Clark. It’s going to be a place where we can all come together and grow closer as a community.”
Clark nodded, but his thoughts were elsewhere. He needed to figure out his next move, and fast. He had no intention of getting stuck in a co-op center, no matter how peaceful Olivia thought it would be.
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POV : ALIEN FACTORY
In a different part of the universe, two aliens were engaged in their own conversation. One was a short, scruffy creature that looked like a talking dog, his fur mottled and gray. His name was Rolf. The other was a sleek, alien-style wolf with luminous eyes that glinted in the dim light of their space factory. This one was Sam.
“How’s the batches of Soylent: Green coming?” Rolf asked, his voice a low growl that echoed through the metal corridor.
Sam glanced up from his control panel, his long tail flicking back and forth. “Doing well,” he replied. “Just been hard capturing more of the population of SoyLent.”
Rolf snorted, his muzzle wrinkling in disdain. “Well, yeah, that’s the job of the slave catchers, capturing those Soys from the Green faction. But with the civil war about to start, it should be easier.”
Sam nodded, his ears twitching as he considered the situation. “Yeah, it could be worse. We could be hunting people from the other side. I heard the Peeple faction has a huge underground railroad.”
“That could make it hard,” Rolf agreed.
“You’re telling me.”
“The Peeple faction is making good coins by providing us the Greens for our vats though.”
The two aliens fell into a comfortable silence, the hum of the space factory filling the void. Finally, Rolf stretched, his joints popping. “Well, I’ve got to finish my rounds. Talk to you later, Sam.”
Sam gave a curt nod. “See you soon, Rolf.”
And with that, they parted ways, each lost in their own thoughts as they continued with the tasks at hand.
Back on Earth, Clark was already planning his next move, his mind racing with possibilities as the sun began to set over the Earth’s Children camp.
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