Artificially Created Humans

Finally able to breathe, and away from the tension and pressure of the Dome, Dorian marvelled at the sight before him. An open expanse of untouched wilderness spread out wide past the horizon. Splashes of reds and greens and blues and purples moved and danced in and out of his vision. The air had a sweet smell to it and he breathed it in regularly. As he watched the sunlight reflect on a near by lake, he couldn’t help but smile.

“You better not start going on about finally feeling free in the open arms of nature or some shit.” Issac was many steps ahead of Dorian, clearly unmoved by something he had seen many times before. “You look like a princess from a kids’ cartoon.”

Issac didn’t care that his taunt didn’t get a response. He wasn’t even sure why he pulled the new guy out here, anyway. Well, he did, but to admit that he was still a slave to his programming wasn’t something he was willing to do. Especially in front of a human. He huffed audibly. “Not even gonna get a thank you, am I? Even though you looked like you were about to wet yourself? Should’ve let you, honestly, would’ve been funny.”

“Shut up.”

“All right, no need to get moody. If you want, I can walk you back in there. Do you need me to hold your hand, too?”

"Look, I…I don’t even know who you are! Why did you drag me out here, anyway?”

Issac picked a sparkly dandelion like plant and blew it in Dorian’s face. “Dunno. Don’t really think about why I do stuff. If I wanna do something, I just do it. It’s whatever.”

“I saw you standing by those people in the poetry area. The younger boy was looking at you when he begged the others to stop. Did you start that fight?”

“Maybe I did. What of it?”

“Why?”

“Because it’s funny. Don’t need a better reason than that.”

“Its funny to watch someone smaller than you get bullied?”

Issac’s nose pressed against Dorian’s. Despite being quite far ahead of him, he was able to make up the ground quickly. Dorian found it odd that he felt no breath from the boy’s mouth. His gaze was intense, practiced. He clearly felt threatened, and he felt it often. Dorian needed to stand his ground if he didn’t want to fall to his level.

He didn’t flinch, either. As much as every muscle wanted to collapse underneath him. He knew that if he didn't stand up for himself now, he would either be dragged around as a lackey by this boy, or taken back to the Dome.

“What do you know about my life? Who are you to judge me?”

“I’m no one, but I’m pretty sure I can tell a bully when I see one.”

Issac grabbed Dorian’s collar and pulled him from the floor. “I’m a bully? Me? For someone who's supposed to be our wise Saviour, you really don’t know shit, do you?”

Dorian felt a jolt of annoyance work its way up his spine. He had never encountered somebody his own age so eagerly willing to disrupt him while having the confidence to do so. The more he thought about it, what annoyed him The most is that this boy seemed to share his hatred of his circumstances. It seemed that both grew up in communities they hated. While Dorian sympathised with that, the desire to find his friend and for once not be the centre of attention won out in the end.

“I never claimed to be one of those people! And maybe, if you want me to know something, try talking? I didn't know why people were looking at you funny back in the Dome. I think I'm starting to understand now, though. If you think I'm wrong, why don't you try telling me?"

Issac said nothing and placed Dorian back on the floor. “Why couldn't you just be one?”

“I’m sorry?”

“A Saviour! If you had just come in and said that you would take us home, then none of this would matter! Everyone's wasting their lives for no reason, and it's your fault!”

“Oh great! More stuff I don’t understand! I never said I was one of these Saviour people! We just had to escape my village and a talking head transported us here! I have, and I cannot stress this enough, literally no control over what’s going on.”

The two boys listened to the soft breeze that silently floated between them. Dorian had expected his reluctant travelling companion to be angry, but he watched as the boy sat down underneath a tree and thought for a moment. This was the most peaceful Dorian had seen his face, having spent the entire journey watching it twist and morph with scowls.

It reminded him of Avery.

He wondered how his friend was getting on, if his captor had been as kind as Mai. She didn't seem all that threatening. Pigtails weren’t really a good look if you wanted to impose your will on somebody. He also knew that, judging by the seriousness everybody in that room took their supposed crime when they teleported in, and given how Avery becomes overloaded by even the slightest perceived threat, He was right to worry for his safety

“Did you say that a robot teleported you here? Like, an old one?” Issac asked.

“Yes! You saw it. The person I came here with said it was an old Union Droid or something. I don’t know though. There was a very short gap between me seeing the Droid and then getting zapped here.”

Abruptly, Issac rose to his feet and walked at a brisk pace away from Dorian, who huffed in annoyance at what seemed like another spontaneous decision.

Issac spoke without turning back. “Follow me. I might have something that can help both of us.”

“I don’t even know your name.”

“Oh…its Issac, whatever."

***

Dorian found himself in darkness. Isaac had led them both through the dense forest until they came to a man-made hole in the ground which he then lead him down. The varied smells and sounds of the environment gradually faded in favour of the clang of machinery and the smell of oil and dust.

“Where are you taking me?" asked Dorian.

“Just shut up and follow me. Do you wanna get lost and die?”

“No?”

“Good. Now don’t let go of my hand.”

“Oh!” Dorian chuckled, pitching his voice up a couple octaves. “My handsome prince!”

“It's a good thing we're nearly at the bottom. Close your eyes.”

Dorian did as he was told. When Isaac flicked the light switch, the change in brightness almost blinded him. The room he found himself in was now incredibly brightly lit. All around him were computers and machines that he had seen before. He had seen things like it back home. He knew these were super computers. What he did not know is why somebody like Isaac would have such a technologically powerful space just stuffed in the middle of the forest.

“Wha-”

Issac cut him off. “I’m a technician. I build things.”

“You built all of this yourself? And you kept it hidden? Why didn't you tell the people of the Dome about this place? During the time I spent with Mai I could see some systems were aging. This looks brand new. How did you get it?”

Issac fell silent. Dorian looked around the room. He wasn't wrong, but these modules looked pristine, unlike the rust covered block units of Isaac's home.

Walking around the room, Dorian noticed that he recognised a lot of these pieces of equipment. A row of computer terminals lined up next to each other, each containing various pieces of information. They were customised for various tasks. Isaac's monitors were labelled “Surveillance,” “Mission” and “Communication.”

Dorian wasn't about to pry into someone else's life, but there was a burning question on his lips that he needed to ask. He recognised these technologies. He had seen them before, albeit a little worse for wear.

“This is Union tech. New Union tech. How-”

“That's why I brought you here, because I knew you could see what I see. I saw it in your eyes when you were touring the grounds with my sister. You feel what I feel. You understand the futility of working for something that will never come to pass.”

“Hold on. Since when did you use words like futility? Has your accent changed? What’s happening?"

“Sorry.” Issac said. “Gotta keep up the persona if I don’t wanna get caught. Or, you know, whatever. Sorry about the emotional manipulation, but like I said, I needed to get you here.”

“That still doesn’t explain anything.”

“We both come from places where being different is viewed as a sin. I am looked down upon for my inability to see the beauty and things. I've always been technical, always been able to build things, program things. The problem was that, as talented as everyone admitted I was, building, programming and repairing were ‘Droid’ work. So, just like that, in the hierarchy of the beautiful, I was lesser and worthy of ridicule. There’s me, then everybody contributing to the return, and then the Elders’ at the top.”

“Wasn't the robot that came with us supposed to be an Elder too? That's what everyone's been telling me? That all the old model Droids are important… I don't see it myself, but…”

“No, unfortunately, everyone in the Dome is gullible. They have only interacted with each other, so they have no idea how the wider world works. Consequently, they are being manipulated by someone else. That robot you brought with you is no better than a janitor or a maid. Did you see the big computers when you arrived?”

Dorian scoffed. “The big block that ordered us to be put in prison as soon as we arrived? Yeah.”

“Those are the true masterminds of the Dome. Thing is, they're about one hundred years past their exploration date. I don't know how they're still functioning, or why they are ordering us to make items for them. I've told them multiple times that the Dome is breaking down, but because it doesn't fit with the ‘vision’ for the return of the Saviours, they’re oblivious. Their programming should account for everything that goes on, but it doesn't.”

“So you want to get revenge on them for abandoning you? You've got all the technology you need down here. Can't you let it go?”

Isaac stared Dorian down. “You’re one to talk. I can read how you think about us. That we’re caged, and the system is oppressive, just like yours. It's not that I don't agree, just show a bit of tact, would you?

“How do you know about-” before Dorian could finish, Isaac dug his nails in his arm and flipped open a panel. His interior was wiring flashing lights, his blood neon pinks and blues.

“We are artificially created humans. We were made with the specific purpose of working in the Utrecht dome. We were made with a very high artistic sensibility., And to go with that, we are empaths. In order to study art, you have to understand human emotions after all. To put it simply, I can read your mind, but that's not exact. It's more like…A feeling that is also a language. It is a language I can speak."

“Impressive!"

“Calm down kid"

“So… What does all this have to do with you bringing me here? I assume there's a reason?”

“Yes, I need to figure out why my siblings are being made to slave away for apparently no reason. We need to determine if the Elders’ programming is broken and we also need to make sure your friend is safe."

Dorian smiled. “So, what you’re saying is…?”

“How good are you at breaking and entering?” Issac said, grinning back at him.