Sampson

"Hello, is someone there," Sampson called out, his voice still raspy, weak from dehydration. His name was Zachary Haines, but his friends called him Sampson by virtue of his undulating russet locks and chiseled bronze frame. Sulfuric acid contaminated the open water sources as the comet broke into thousands of smaller meteorites, raining hellfire on the planet. No stranger to century-old DIY hacks, Zach recalled a blog post he had uploaded while on the inside, depicting water being pumped to the Earth's surface via an underground aquifer. As information was carefully guarded, watched by the vigilant eye of the Hiztorian Cadence of the Enlightened class, this misstep cost him his citizenship to the UCZ. United Citi-Zens.

There were three primary groups of people; the Enlightened, the Enchanted, and the Expats. Each group, or class, was divided into various Cadences, and each Cadence was further divided into specific positions as assigned to the individual. The Enlightened had seized control years ago with the pledge of unification, equality, and ultimate freedom. Freedom to express. Freedom to create. Freedom to do whatever one desired, within the established guidelines of the Credo. The Credo was posted virtually everywhere in the state to ensure complete obedience.

When a Citi-Zen was five years of age, they would recite the Credo before the local ceremonial board. The microdermis chip was then implanted, as was the ritual for all of the Faithful, and read:

The symbols appeared emblazoned just under the surface of the forearm in neon lighting. The specific color would vary, depending on one's Cadence within the Enlightened class. Purple signified the Ascendent. Red denoted the Enforcer, orange, the Hiztorian, and green, the Helper. The Helpers comprised most of the Enlightened class, as they were the specialists in various fields - technology, education, science, construction, robotics, engineering. Charged with governance, the Ascendents were the judges of the UCZ. The judges in the Ascendency composed the laws and ultimately appropriated the punitive measures for the Disobedient or the Unfaithful. Though the whole of the Enlightened decided guilt via an electronic vote, the lawmaker-judges determined the appropriate sentencing.

The Enlightened practiced strict adherence to the statutes inscribed in the Credo. Their world was a utopia for them, safe from outside harm, and every Citi-Zen seemed genuinely cordial and polite. Nevertheless, the Citi-Zens were consistently reminded that if they strayed from the guidelines, an eternal permafrost awaited them outside the outer gates. In tandem with the Mulct (the strict punishment system), these types of warnings helped to promote loyalty to the Ascendency. The Mulct ranged in the extraction of an eye, or a limb, to multiples of either. An offender would be held in Sanctuary until another or others joined their ranks. They were compelled to observe each other's eyes or limbs being dismembered. A dedicated surgeon performed the extractions without the amelioration of sedatives or anesthesia, and the Unfaithful were then excommunicated and thrown outside of the Dome.

Between the inner and outer gates were the Enchanted. The Enchanted class belonged to the United Citi-Zens but had not acquired the valuable skills required to become a part of the Enlightened class. These were the spiritual people, the musicians, the poets, the artists, and the writers. Occasionally, they would be called upon by the Enlightened for guidance or entertainment or to upgrade their Artificial Intelligence. As a result of their quasi utility, they were not cast to the outer gates but remained in-between.

The Expats roamed everywhere outside the City. The Outer Dwellers managed to set up communities for themselves. If they were to survive, they would have to hunt, fish, and grow crops, which became near impossible after the Great Collision. Billions were wiped out, but the construction of Evergreen Cities began long before, as NASA and others calculated the impending doom. The Cities were encased in a large Evergreen Dome. The translucent domes covered tens of thousands of square miles. Those fortunate enough to have their number drawn in the lottery would be guaranteed safety if they were willing to abide by the Credo and have the microchip implanted. Many chose to join forces with others who had underground bunkers outside of the City. Despite the understanding that food and water shortages were a certainty, living outside the City, free from the unabated arm of the Ascendency, was far more attractive to them. They became known as the Expats, as they dissociated from the United Citi-Zens.

The Dome was climate controlled, with temperatures steadily between 72-78F and humidity kept at thirty percent. This temperate climate allowed for life-sustaining crops while being shielded from the toxicity of the external environment due to the impact. However, as the population grew within the City walls, water availability began to be an issue. Whispers of the impending shortages started to spread throughout the UCZ, and a mission was already underway to gain assistance from the Expats.

Four armed Scouts abruptly descended from the airborne vehicle, resembling a sort of helicopter, sans propellers. “Zachary Haines,” the quasi robotic voice echoed. “You must come with us.” It was still frigid on the outside, as it had taken years for the sunlight to penetrate the dark cloud of meteoric debris still floating in the atmosphere. Dehydrated and famished, the weakened Haines was no match for four heavily armed Scouts. His dog, Max was tranquilized and carried into the craft with him.

"Zachary, the sweetest voice echoed as he began to lose consciousness. He saw her high cheekbones, soft jawline, blond wisps of hair caressing his face. He had just turned ten years old. Zach heard her charming laugh as she was singing, "Happy Birthday." She was a geneticist, and his father, an engineer. They decided to stay behind to assist those outside of the Dome. After two years, when they deemed it safe to visit, the Scouts began their mission to recruit skilled geneticists and engineers to work for the City. However, his mother and father were determined to keep their status as Expats, as they wished to see their boy grow up in a free land, regardless of the stakes. The Drs. Haines were revered among the Expats, and they were well-guarded in the Wilderness.

One particularly frigid day, January 22, 2112, Sampson's tenth birthday, the Scouts came to recruit his parents. They were not asking this time; it was an ultimatum. Despite all attempts to defend themselves, the weapons the Scouts wielded were too powerful, and his father and mother were promptly executed. A weeping Sampson was holding onto his mother as the life force left her body. Her locket was clutched in his fist when they tore him away from his mother. The silver heart-shaped locket snapped off her neck chain, and he clenched it tightly in his right hand as they carried him up in the sky craft and whisked him away.

"Zachary." His mother's face began to vanish, and another face appeared, soft but different; her voice, sweet, motherly, and somehow familiar. As he came to, Zach felt for his mother's locket he had secured around his neck for safe-keeping. Sensing it was important, the nurse gently removed it from her pocket and handed it to him. "She's pretty. Is that your mother," she asked. "I'm Delilah. Nice to meet you, Mr. Haines." Zach managed to eke out a weak half-smile. "Yeah," he uttered, his voice returning, "nice to meet you." Zachary suddenly came to. "Deli…" he started "Delilah." His voice betrayed his fondness for the Helper he had worked with some twenty years ago when he was a Citi-Zen.

Zach nearly leaped off the gurney attempting to embrace her but was immediately subdued by two Scouts. At that moment, a holographic image appeared of the Supreme Elder in the Ascendency. Zachary recognized the man as Ahn Sahng-Hong. "Mr. Haines," the voice started, "Nice to have you back with us." Sampson could feel his blood pressure rising at the sight of the figure whose thirst for power and control caused the death of his parents and countless others. He began to breathe in slowly while shifting his eyes laterally, struggling to regain command of his emotions.

"I'm a little confused as to what I'm doing here, seeing as how I was excommunicated twenty years ago." He glanced over at Delilah and then back to the hologram. His posture softened. "How can I be of service?"

"Mmmmm," the Elder replied, "We will be getting to that. Perhaps the twenty years in the Wilderness has caused you to rethink your loyalties, Mr. Haines. But, just in case…." The holograph now revealed his honey-brown Rhodesian Ridgeback. Sampson had named him Max after an old dystopian movie, "Mad Max." He found the hapless pup on one of his missions to locate well points and galvanized steel pipes to drive into the aquifer to pump water from the ground via a pitcher pump.

"Max," Sampson blurted out. He would do anything for Max, who became his best friend and hunting partner in the Wilderness.

"I will also have my best surgeon reattach this. We held onto it as a sort of souvenir. Perhaps you would like it back."

"I've managed with just the one eye for twenty years. I know why you've brought me here; rumors have a way of getting around. I'll assist you with your little water problem, and I'll send my best men. But God help you if you lay a finger on him," Sampson warned.

It was at that very moment that Sampson had another memory. His father, a gifted engineer, had figured a way in and out of the Dome. He hadn't put it all together until now, but he remembered seeing his father at times with the locket. He suddenly had a strong sense that the locket held the secret to exiting and entering the City. Haines now recalled that every time he touched his mother's picture, something was raised behind her photo. Could it be that this locket was his saving grace? Another recollection - Morse Code. His father had taught him the Morse alphabet when he was just five years of age. They would play games, communicating in the dots and dashes in various ways growing up. Carefully opening the locket, Sampson felt for the raised button behind his mother's photo. Three dots, three dashes, three dots.

As the entire Dome began to open, Sampson ran from the hospital, toward the Sanctuary, where Max was being held. Alarms began sounding everywhere as chaos consumed the entire UCZ. Sampson sprinted towards the Sanctuary and whistled for Max as the gates started to lower. Max leaped through the gate, and the two jumped into the aircraft and slammed the hatch. He paused, torn between his love for Delilah and freedom. Then, with grim determination, he sped off, but he would return.