Trapped In Time - Chapter 99

Things had been going on smoothly for the last 250 years. They were allowed to go to the Cities above and gain knowledge and even get married there. But something negative started happening about 80 years ago. Their movements were restricted. They were not allowed to get married outside. As a result, their gene pool got restricted and many genetic disorders started to develop. The non-scientific people did not understand that intermarriage within the four towns had side effects. Everyone ended up being related to someone or the other. Lethal genes, suppressed genes started showing up and many people were born with deformities, brain issues, etc.

His grandfather was the last one to go out of this area. He had acquired knowledge and had got married but he was not allowed to bring Mono’s grandmother back to this place. After his grandmother died, his grandfather came back with his son, Mono’s father.

His grandfather realized that the previous Administrator was cruel but the present one was even more cruel. He wanted the time machine developed fast. To tell you the truth there were a few scientists who supported him and suggested using brains of scientists after their death to be joined with the brain of the deceased scientist whose huge brain had been sacrificed for the project. Then, it became a rule that any scientist who worked here would, after his death, be cremated. But first, his brain would be surgically removed and amalgamated with the first brain of the time machine. In this way, 75 scientists were unwillingly sacrificed for this project. A project that no one would want to be successful.

The Orbs want the help of the group of campers in destroying the time machines in the other three towns. They also want to overthrow the ‘Administrator’ and his band of evil council members.

We were all apprehensive about this plan of taking down a government. Sherpa continued with the story. Mono understood our apprehensions and told us that only our supportive presence was needed as the actual work would be done by him. The Orbs would provide a cover or a camouflage so that no one would know anything, until the evil guys were apprehended. The cover would be in the form of a cloud that will make everyone invisible. The Orbs would move with them by surrounding them.

As per the plan, they needed to start from the Town that was at the very end that was Town I. The towns were laid out in a linear manner and the town that was at the periphery needed to be visited first. Then they would work inwards through Town J, Town K, the abandoned Town L (to ensure release the Orbs of the scientists trapped in the abandoned lab where the Time Machine was being built and ensure destruction of the Time machine and machinery if any). Finally, they would return to Town M to release of the freedom fighters and political prisoners as well as the arrest of the current Administrator and his coterie of corrupt persons. This would require more effort and detailed planning and more time. So, it was left to the last.

The scientists of Utopia had made a system of tunnels to interconnect all the towns. It was better to travel through the tunnels rather than going above and walking across as it would take too long.

So, we all left our backpacks and our tent equipment plus utensils in the storeroom, behind the tunnel where there was a hidden door. We even left behind our water bottles. Mono had explained to them that they had pure mineral water that comes from the mountains and a few bottles were kept in every car.

They would travel in these tunnels to the furthest town which was 200 km away on the other side of the snow covered mountain and would cover the distance in half an hour by using four electric cars. The electric energy that was used for the cars was harnessed from the small waterfalls at all the towns. They left through the tunnel that the 7 scientists had taken. The 75 Orbs led the way. After walking for 10 minutes, the came to an area where there were a number of cars.

There were 4 persons here who had become statues. These were probably Engineers. One was working on the computer; another seemed to be checking a few wires. The third was drinking water and the glass was raised towards his mouth. The fourth was in the process of walking away from the parked cars, one left leg was behind and the right leg was about touch the floor but had not touched. It was a strange sight and the Orbs rushed to cover their presence.

They all sat in 4 cars. Mono sat in the first car along with Luke, Sunny, and Danny. Sherpa sat in the second car along with Ben and Chris. Zia sat in the third car with Zoya, Nanu, and Shana. Zen sat in the fourth car along with Tina and Cathy.

The Orbs did not need cars. They just hovered above the cars in a ring-like manner. There was no steering wheel in any of the cars. The cars did not have wheels but glided on a thick steel rod-like aperture. Mono pressed a few buttons in the lead car and all the cars started moving together with one another through the long tunnel. They could see the speedometer in front adjacent to the panel which had a lot of buttons. They were asked, through a loudspeaker system in each car, not to press any buttons as all the cars were controlled by the lead car. Such action, if attempted by anyone, even by mistake, would affect diversion of that car elsewhere.

They all understood the announcement and knew how drastic the results would be if they did not follow instructions.

There was nothing to see outside except a long winding tunnel which went on and on. The sides of the tunnel were having lights at regular intervals to ensure that the tunnel would not be in dark. The journey was quite tedious as there was nothing to do. Some persons took a short nap, others were thinking about themselves or about what was to happen at Town I.

Within 25 minutes they reached the landing pad at the arrival tunnel of Town I. The cars stopped at their respective slots and the doors opened. The Orbs surrounded everyone as they emitted white light.

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