Primal by The Prisoner at Inkitt

Prologue

Primal: The forgotten enemy

The human mind is but a prison, the perfect cage designed to hold the most dangerous thing in the universe, our thoughts.

The Prisoner.

Prologue

The view of the floating installation from the window of the hydrogen powered flying vehicle looked breath taking, erasing cynicism of any who set their sight upon the marvel. The design seemed intended to elicit complete obedience. The landing pad placed at an angle that allowed the passengers view full view of the incomprehensible island. Challenging the viewer’s beliefs and forcing them to believe in the fairy-tale of collective ingenuity.

Gently the flaying metal craft fell to a soft landing, so soft that the pilot had to remind the passenger to disembark. The passenger, a young black woman in brown kimono like coat, stumbled in confusion along the narrow path towards the landing party but not before checking her appearance in the tinted windows of the aircraft.

“Miss Mwense Chivuta, I presume.” A dark man with piercing golden brown eyes said, hand outstretched.

Mwense conscious mind froze, refusing to believe her eyes, unable to accept that the presences that stood ahead. Thankfully, instinct took over before the meeting got awkward. A simple nod was all she could muster.

“My name is Chishala Mwansa and my partner is Xoxo Reddy.” He said pointing out the brown beside him.

“I know.” Mwense said in a hurry, finally escaping her stupor. “Nice to meet you Dr Reddy, am a big fan of your work. Although I must admit advanced biotech is not my forte.”

“Me neither and please just Xoxo. No titles allowed.” The good scientist said taking in her form. “Are you comfortable in those platforms?” Showing genuine concern.

“Am perfect.” She said, trying but failing to keep a straight face. “No need to worry.”

It’s then Mwense noticed her semi casual attire was too formal for such an eccentric place. Were the entire population wore multi coloured slacks. “Willing to trade.” Chishala asked offering up his blue slippers. “It’s recycled polyethylene.” He comforted. She took up the offer, failing refuse before the shoes were off her feet.

“I see you got a new haircut. I like it.” Chishala picks up holding her shoes over his shoulder. The comment earns Chishala a glare from Xoxo. “I mean not that my validation maters but because adding positivity into the universe is good. I always liked natural hair styles.” He bubbled before passing a hand through his unkempt hair.

“Thank you.” Mwense managed a few more words, proud for once of her litter brother’s proficiency in cutting hair. They are walking down a busy open space before she opens her mouth again to talk. “I attended the same university as you, you know. I was only two years behind you.” Talking to Chishala.

“I know.” He said coldly. “Old man Daka still talk about me?”

“Always.” She answered. “That right there is an idealistic idiot.” She mimicked her old professor, drawing a laugh from both parties. “Created an entire lecture, preaching about the dangers of trusting disillusioned futurists.”

Chishala found the words amusing. “Didn’t expect any less from the man.”

“And yet you proved him wrong. You proved the entire world wrong.” She said glad that .

“That was all Xoxo, Ren, Galaxy, Devon, Sugi and the rest of the team.” He responded with a bright smile. “I was just the cheerleader.”

“Oh, get off your ego trip.”Xoxo lightly scorned. “Nobody believes the humble b.s, you were just another narcissist speared by ego.”

“Come on.” He whined genuinely hurt by the assertion. “I just wanted to do my bit. It had nothing to do thing ego, only fear propelled me. Fear of potential unfulfilled.”

“Yes cracking the secrets of helix data storage was all about the pure goodness and nothing to do with the monetary gain.” She mocked bear him a cynical smile.

Mwense’s two guides stop suddenly at the foot of a large sculpture of a spinning DNA helix. “You behave.” He whispered to Xoxo before quickly turning to face Mwense. “Welcome to Infinity.” He announced as Xoxo threw disintegrating confetti in the air.

Mwense’s clapped cheerfully, finding her guides awkward coordination delightful. It was still hard to believe that two weeks ago Mwense, an academic burn out, failing to get her masters in advanced genetics, now she had just become part of group dedicated to preserving the history of the entire world. Not just the ones deemed important by magazine articles but every single living person past present and future. From an indentured slave in the mega factories to the sex worker using the imbedded chips produced so her pimp can track her. “Is that it? The monolith?” She asked Xoxo at the end of the mini event, looking at the sculpture.

“That’s the prototype. It’s fully functional, it just had some compatibility issues with some accessories it was designed to work with. Nothing too catastrophic but response time became slower under stressed conditions.”

“Not to be the negative loony but why me? It’s not like am–”

“The best? Neither were we when we began.” Xoxo interrupts. “Once they add a few more awards to internet search you’ll start fitting right in. Just look at the failed career student.” Meaning Chishala.

Then a cylindrical container appears from the floor or ground because on water it served as both. Chishala leads the way, entering the elevator before the two. Mwense hesitates; she never loved small spaces but anything to get off her little brother’s room. Commandeering her brother’s apartment for two years while he slept on the couch was past the point of guilt. It’s had now become a permanent lump in her heart, so she walked into the elevator and pretending to be fine. Even looking thoughtful viewing the many ocean’s creatures that passed by the shaft. No one uttered a word until the elevator reached the bottom floor. “Sorry about that. Some people insist we use old technologies.” Xoxo said.

“That was your idea.” Chisala raged as they walked into a busy florescent-lit hallway, this one populated by more blue attires than any other colour. “Oh, so you’re going act like you don’t remember. Keep the same energy when the next recruit isn’t claustrophobic.”

“I am not committing to anything.” She shrugged leading the way.

Mwense was surprisingly less anxious at the bottom of the ocean than above it. Though still as distracted, soon forgetting the presence of others and giving into the ocean’s flora and fauna. It took some time for the tour to resume both waiting patiently until she said the words. She noticed belatedly as they moved through varying hallways that their route consistent trailed dimly flashing green lights. From a sign a few turns back, she remembered green indicated the implant lab but before she could surmise the reasoning, they arrived.

The sliding door soon gave way, revealing a fully rigged state of the art operation room. The lack of staff immediately caught her attention. Quickly the room’s walls tuned pink, the same colour as the operation room at Nkumbula general, where she got her chip implanted. The operation was so fast and painless that she unconsciously found pink calming.

“We just need to do your medical before heading to your work station.” Xoxo said as flat steel bed rose from the floor and a scanner slide down from the ceiling. With a finger, she showed Mwense more fitting attire –a short black shirt that left her lower back exposed and short and tight fitting shorts – for what would follow. “Lay on the table after you’re done.” Pointing to a small room.

Immediately as Mwense sat on the steel table, it morphed to fit her butt. She shook her head in dismay, refusing to accept the proportions proposed. If the setting had not been professional, she would surely have called for the supervisor. Still she sat in silent protest, refusing to accept that her unhealthy habits over the past three years had added a few grams. Feigning denial, she lay on the bed, making sure her stiffened upper lip was visible to present company.

“Don’t worry, it adds a few kilos.” Chishala lied, reading her mind. “Just relax and get comfortable. This might take a couple of minutes.” Taking a sit beside her as Xoxo played with a display beside him. “So tell us about yourself. The more detail the better, for the files.” Pointing the to a screen showing words they had recently spoken

“Born in a small town, Mwembe, in the middle of nowhere. I get the feeling I never made an impression on anyone but I still love that place, it’s my home you know.” The affirmation she received from both showed they did. “It was me, my little brother and our parents. Close knit than most, especially in recent times. Oh am mumbling, so I was born in Mwembe, to middle class a family – you would call it extreme poverty today, but it worked for us. Worked hard in formal education and got some good grades. Received a bursary from the Kaunda National Institute of Technology. In my first year I witnessed a crazy person being ridiculed by the student body, I joined in just for kicks. Said numerous horrid things. A few days later, I heard the crazy person committed suicide. Felt bad but not bad enough to miss a party the next day. Lost my virginity.” She paused with a composed sigh.

“It was with a friend of a friend I liked, handsome dude but I don’t think it was consensual. Too drunk to remember. Didn’t bother me enough though to report it. I mean that shit happened everyday so I asked him out. He turned me down. Cool I guess.” She paused again, her eyes cloudy.

“Got depressed, so decided to take a nap, don’t how long I slept but when I awoke, I had graduated. Barely. My parents were still happy though. After a year of no job offers, I decided to head back to school. Get my masters. Two more years of unruly behaviour. Yeah.” She pantomimed.

“First year began well enough, so I decided to get into my first relationship. An old friend, it was better than I expected. Maybe that’s why I fucked it up so bad. He doesn’t even talk to me anymore. My only friend gone forever.” Xoxo unconsciously nodded, it came across as true understanding. “Somehow the disaster called my life made me excel in school. Best grades have ever had – actually the only thing I had. My final year started better than the first, with the school inquiring about me sticking around to teach this time. It was up and up for me from there, at least it was supposed to.” Another deep breath this one longer than the first. The two observers never broke the silence, the just waited.

“Then I just faded, completely. Like becoming the background in your own painting.” Mwense picked up her voice trembling as though she was still there, in the time of old, younger Mwense. “Still managed to get my masters, somehow. Even with the worst thesis in institution history. Got tired went to sleep, woke up in a hospital. Overdosed on a bottle of meds. Apparently chronic depression has side effects.” She stopped expecting the exam to be over as she eyed Chishala intently, now noticing him holding her left hand, just as her mother did when she awoke that rainy night in the hospital.

“It happens to the best of us.” Chishala said holding her hand firmly, conveying the message of strength nonverbally too. “We just have to start over again. Rebuilding the same structures differently. Using the same stone but changing up the architectural style.”

Mwense looked away not wanting to hear that from him, he of all people should deny her solace. “Woke up in the hospital,” She continued, using the story to bury the emotions. “To my crying mother, angry father and scared brother. I was mad at first, then became convinced, I was in the afterlife because the crazy person that was supposed to be dead was on TV. He had somehow managed to create a device that helped people manage their mental disorders. A pacemaker for the mind. The scientific community lampooned the man, calling the device an attempt to exploit the victims of modern problems. After all, all proof given for the device was debatable with the only difference between it and normal meds that slowly put you in debt was it quickly put you in debt.”

Xoxo gave Chishala a scowl. “Hey I didn’t set pricing. The World Board for Medical Standard Enforcement set the price.” He complained. “I wanted to give them out for free but apparently that breached monopoly regulations. Macro–Pharmaceuticals would have lost an incredibly profitable sector. Just be glad we didn’t end up in unmarked graves.”

“I didn’t say anything.” Xoxo claimed. “But if I was, I would say that decision only delayed the inevitable. We still ended up monopolising the sector.”

“Yes but it gave them enough time to create new epidemics to profit off of.” He joked. “Parasitic capitalism at its best.”

It was then Mwense fully abandoned the accession that the two decorated inventors worked in serious camaraderie. Maybe this was the side effect of continuously breaking the bounds of fundamental understanding. How she would have loved to find out.

“Well Miss Chivuta, would you be joining us.” Xoxo said placing a form full fine printed words.

Knowing the offer would never come again, she knew what she had to do. “No.” She uttered, her brown eyes soft, trying had to show how hard it was to say the words. “I am sorry but yesterday I woke up at three in the afternoon. I was arguing with strangers I’ll never meet offline about the best character in an obscure telenovela the previous night, till three in the morning. Then I received an email saying to expect a call. I seriously thought of it as a joke then I saw your face. Maybe this is cruel joke, you trying to get revenge for us–”

“It isn’t besides that moment was the best thing to ever happen.” He interrupted.

“Mr Mwansa, maybe it’s been a while since you saw the real world but we normal people still use land vehicles, our aircrafts make loud noises with each engine start. Floating megacities are still pipe dreams to people like us. Space flight yeah, that’s our jam, we leap and jump haphazardly towards progress, often stopping to rest to take a breath. Your type of small concentrated leaps towards progress is not compatible with mine.”

The room went quiet after her words. After the words settled, the man moved quick, helping Mwense off the table before transforming it into the sphere showing their world. “You feel that you don’t belong?” She nodded. “In ten years our home nation will fall into the sea, just as it did for our neighbours in the south. Remember the chaos and violence caused by the great migration.” The sphere had morphed into a single continent now, their home continent. “Do you think you and your family will survive the chaos that ensures?”

Mwense went quiet but not from shock, the information wasn’t news; sinking landmasses were open secrets that everyone denied. The actions of the negligent and uncaring ancestors had forever tipped the world beyond the point of no return, in terms of climate change. It had now become a race of survival, with plutocrats each offering up their own ideas, each championing those that “coincidentally” tripled their already enormous wealth. That’s why people at the bottom, like Mwense, chose ignorance because nothing is every free, not even salvation. Religion proved it a long time ago. “No. Maybe. I don’t think so.” She answered softly.

“And that’s exactly why you belong here.” Chishala said passionately. “You think we built this place out of vanity?”

“I did.” Xoxo interjected, signalling to tone down the idealism.

“I tried long distance travel through space once.” He picked up more sombre. “I failed. Losing a lot of people in process. It’s then I learnt, our means of survival would never be the stars. Leave that to the aliens.”

“Wait you believe in aliens?” She mocked with a condescending smile. The egotistical academic was still in there. Something’s can never disappear.

“Of course we do.” Xoxo said passionately moving her direction. “You don’t?” Mwense could see Chishala frantically signing behind Xoxo.

“I too believe in the unknown.” She said cautiously taking the warning. “It’s had to find other believers.” She received thumbs up for her efforts from the Chishala.

“Good, good.” Xoxo said breathing slower, existing Mwense’s personal space. “More reason to join.”

Mwense mumbled, thinking out loud her excuses but all that came to mind was how she could finally get back on track. This is you and Kandata all over again, her mind reproached. Her shoulders slouched at the thought, total and utter defeat. “So you really think I can be of use here?” She humbly asked.

“Of course your brother called you the laziest person he knows.”

“What?” She said waving a finger on the tablet.

“At every instance of major innovation, lazy people have been at the forefront.” Chishala said getting a large needle and handing it over to Xoxo who stood behind her. “You think a strong ancient person, just decided to make a wheel. Take away her only method of showing off strength. It could only have been the laziest one in the community. Fed up, she figured out an easier way. Innovation is for those too lazy to accept their current means of survival.”

Then the needle was in her back, realising it only because of the sudden cold spot on her back and the smell of ethanol. “What?” She blurted, not sure which was more nonsensical, the words or the actions. No answer or explanation came for the action and for that reason alone she took note of the woman capable of stabbing bodies without registering her intrusion.”

“Tell me if you start hearing voices.” Xoxo words floated Mwense’s way, the joke not quite landing, as she had just noticed the large door ahead. The short shirt and shorts morphing into a comfortable white work suit had caused a massive hardware crush. The clothes suddenly turned long and white with green stripes where seams were supposed to be, at the sound of her voice, her inner voice. A voice only she could understand, at least she thought so.

The installation had now become wonderland and unlike the thrills of adventure proposed, apprehension and insanity accompanied her deeper into her journey. Thinking it through she began to wonder, why the clothes morphing? Why not the steel table or the noiseless flying vehicle? Or the floating city? Just simple bloody clothes, of all things. Maybe because she didn’t know about tables, aircrafts or construction but clothes, she had been wearing them since birth and recently making her own, there were not supposed to morph at will. What of the laws of matter, something can’t stretch from nothing.

“You okay?” Xoxo asked trying to place a thin band on Mwense hand. She didn’t even notices jerking the hand away. She whipped the sweaty brow with the sleeve of the work suit.

“What is that for?” She asked, voice shaking as her eyes darted back and forth around the ovule dome, with glass ceiling. The walls the turned pink. Her heart rate slowed, it surprised since she never noticed it her heart beating faster. “What happened after we left the lab?”

“You don’t remember? Don’t worry it takes a while to adjust.” Xoxo handed Mwense the band, then showed off an identical band on her left wrist.

It took Mwense a while to understand the how the security bands – she assumed - worked. “Hey!” She called out Xoxo who stood patiently near the large door. “What am supposed to say if I experience irritation. Like all over my body.” At first, she thought it part of her overclocked mind but now that her heart rate had normalised but her skin remained fiery.

“Cool.” She said, bobbing her head thoughtfully. “Does it impede your movements?”

“No, just annoying me at moment.”

“Come then.” Xoxo outstretched her hand. “We’ll take a look at it in the next lab.”

Mwense took the hand, successfully hiding the hesitation within. Then she walked onto the dark panel where Chishala had been waiting alone, choosing to stand behind him and hoping absorbing his calm would help with irritation. A bright red glimmer followed as infrared lights passed her by from below. Then the door ahead came into focus, it brought up images of nuclear survivalists, not that she’d ever been one. Only read about it in history and through the historical action game her and Kandata used to play. Fudge. Some hurt still lingered. She hated the door of reminding her of such a moment. She despised its abnormally large size, the fact that the glass ceiling stopped short of it only made her angrier. Then that hideous green coating, some of it torn off with what looked like scratch marks. Large childish thing looking to go up against a grown woman. The thought of laying her foot in it popped up. That brought out the naughty smile of old, younger Mwense.

Bvvvviinnnnng –

The door responded with an unsettling roar, a mix of an oven alarm, siren and hurricane or missile warning system – they sounded similar to her. She found a hand firmly tightly holding Xoxo’s wrist. It seemed old, younger Mwense had more to share to new, older model.

“Nothing to be scared of.” Xoxo said with a motherly smile, pulling Mwense closer.

Green lights flashed by doors sides, on parts previously thought to be plain old wall. They blended well but became easily visible as it the room went darker…and strangely cold.

The cold lasted only seconds. Which made it worse. Her thoughts of the supernatural run amok. Screw you door.

Chvviiiiing –

It Smiled.

She squeezed Xoxo’s hand tighter. The strange way of way it parted in its middle never sat well with her. Half of it sliding down the other rising up. She now hated something new about the green, finger scratched door. Why not just open smoothly? Why move fast then suddenly stop? She complained. Though she found satisfaction in the lack of oozing mysterious fog.

Then with door’s mouth fully agape she saw what it didn’t need such theatrics. Complete darkness waited at the other side. No, not darkness, more like absence of existence itself.

“Come to me!” It called using Xoxo’s melodic voice.

Mwense opened her mouth to speak but she froze. Then the poised strut of Chisahla ahead, caught her attention; calm even gait and arms in his pockets, fearlessly walking into the unknown. It brought to a mind one of his quotes. Forever moving forward, like debt collectors are at your back.

Sink or swim time for Mwense. She had already made her choice, back in the implant back, the moment ahead on severed as an illusion of choice. Not like she could go back now. Wait? Can I? She panicked. To what exactly? Deposing your brother to the couch in his own home?

“Then swimming it is.” She said, earning a baffled look from Xoxo who still held her hand tight.

Mwense made her choice, to swim with the giants, one of which had disappeared into the deep. She stepped forward, stand next to the other giant, intent on swimming by her side as long as time aloud. The green door refused her inane request. Giants never swim, they are only allowed to fall. So sink she did.

Darkness, sinking, slow and exhausting.

Then sudden light. Thankfully she had made it. “Someone should fix those bulbs.” She said upon seeing Chishala leaning on the railing close by, looking at a large observation glass ahead.

“It’s the maintenance woman’s day off you see.” Chishala said with a wry smile. Mwense only saw the left edge of it because he didn’t turn to face her.

“These things could rack up lawsuits.” She said scolding the man. She couldn’t help it.

“I take it.” Chishala said to face her. “You’re beginning to embrace your role.” A different smile now, more affectionate. Like that of a child, learning of his parent’s decision to continue their mutual bondage, after a long separation.

The words caught her off guard. Startled, she pulled back, deciding to take in the expanse of the room. The room looked larger than the lobby at the elevator a few meters behind and unlike it, the room more observation glass than walls. She took a few steps forward wondering what manner of creatures she could see this far below the ocean. She used the low elevated steps to get to the hallway filled with various coloured work suits. The sight brought back memories of her first year, in an overcrowded lab, everyone too excited to realise the difficulty that lay ahead. It stilled managed to bring back the bright smile of old, younger, happier, oblivious Mwense. She had missed this. She had just realised it, almost making her cry. Not almost, she was going to.

Crossing the busy hall to the glass, pushed forward by embarrassment, not wanting her peers to see her desperation so soon. Such things needed foreshadowing, so that when they did pop out, as things always did, everyone could rationalise it and not judge.

The observation deck did the job, staling the tears, curious wonder and anticipation had usurped every emotion. She looked out in the dark expanse, waiting patiently, wondering what creature would swim past first. Nothing did for a few seconds. Left, nothing. Right , something but too far to see. Up then. She paused in a place for minute then stepped back from the glass. She turned to find Xoxo and Chishala.

“That’s not the ocean I was expecting.” She said calmly. “And that’s not our planet.”

“Congratulations Astroneer!” Chishala said as Xoxo flung some disintegrating into the air.

Mwense nodded her head in thoughtful tone. You should sit down. Great suggestion. Mwense went a notch further though. Falling face to floor.

I fear not the end of the world,

for the world dies every day,

Reborn different each time.

Doubt me?

Tell an unknowing child about the stars.

See how he revels in the death of his old world.

Embracing the new.

And the possibilities of what other worlds follow it.

So don’t fear.