ELYSIUM

 

ELYSIUM

CHAPTER SIX

Inside Memphis Lair

After the prison break in by Memphis and his goons, they had to all retreat back into the underground, where the DTR resided. The situation above the surface was difficult, there were police officers looking for Matt and Memphis after they had kidnapped the CEO of Whitley Industries-Thomas Whitely, a cybernetics company. Who died in transit of the kidnap. It was a successful data heist but they were being chased by the police force and the military.

What was now Memphis’ lair was a waste land. Bombs ravaged his small cave like hideout. His machines were destroyed as well as his gear. His goons were killed mercilessly, those were left behind to man the cave tried to hold the fort but all was futile. Dead bodies piled high at the entrance of the cave waiting to be cremated.

Matt DeSante was slightly injured but nothing could stop his motivation to see his wife and daughter again. He had later learnt that it was not the DTR holding his wife and kid ransom but the Elites themselves.

What could the Elites possibly want with his family?

What did they want with him?

Questions rang in his head like a church bell tolling loudly. He had his exoskeleton suit on as they made the descent down to the DTR hideout. It was rumored that the DTR lived in the underground of L.A. It was said it was like a small city where robots were not welcome and no any form of Artificial Intelligence was accepted in their community.

Only humans.

Even the advent of cybernetic augmentation was shunned upon. People with exo-skeleton suits were shunned and preyed upon. As they entered the tunnels more and more people were seen an odd breed thought Matt. They would wear long garments and queer sunglasses to block out the dust. They had small feet and long noses, mouse like creatures half human half vermin thought Matt.

They were some who were tall enough to be human size and they would be later known as the soldiers. They carried long rifles and they would march to the center of the small worm like city singing ballads of lost souls that died during the Death to Robots war that left Los Angeles to be a wasteland ages ago.

There were wooden structures that were built in great size and immensity. Here the sun could not be reached only lanterns lit their way. The small city was a dark one, small shanties rose above the ground like great sky scrapers each made of wood and metal. The people were many and it looked overpopulated.

“Why do they choose to live like this?” asked Matt.

“In the late 21^st century was the rise of robots and AI. The DTR were a small movement at that time hailing that the new inventions were evil and was not God’s intention for any human to be served or directed by the robots, so they retreated downward as far as the Earths’ core. Here they live in solitude until the time of Humans will come again as in the prophecy…” said Memphis with a bass tone.

“Prophecy? What prophecy?” asked Matt childly.

“Death to all robots and a fresh start for human kind. The last war between humans and the robots. Here is where they prepare themselves. Do not look down upon them for their power is in numbers and the war is coming and it will be glorious!” said Memphis as he casually bit off a piece of beef jerky.

“We are here,” said Memphis.

They all entered a small conclave structure at the heart of an underground tower.

“Mon Ami! Monsieur Memphis” shouted a short African American man at the sight of Memphis.

He embraced him warmly laughing as he did it. He had the most welcoming of smiles. He wore a dusty overall, his skin black as night and his eyes covered in what would seem to be a layer of ash. He was rounded like a ball and spoke cordially inviting all of the crew to his home. His servants mostly women would flock at them bringing all kinds of food and drinks.

They all sat around a fire where they would all laugh and sing songs of days old. They all seemed very happy towards Memphis and they treated him with the utmost respect and benevolence. They reminisced about the good old days when they were just but young men that lived in full joy. When the planets air was fresh and all the glory of the fauna surrounded them.

They talked about their fallen soldiers that died within the battles against the machines, their loved ones that they lost and the beautiful mother Earth before the great pollution.

“Enough of the pleasantries” said Baxter who was the leader of the DTR his short dark arms were raised in motion as the whole crows went silent.

“Now we talk strategy and war!” Said Baxter

“The Elites have profited from our demise, chasing us away from the Earths’ ground which was once our sanctuary and dwelling place. We have been forced to live like vermin hiding in the shadows. Do they forget we were once human too? I doubt it! There greed has consumed them and their ways are evil,” said Baxter.

Most of his followers sat, listening intently some cheering at him with half glasses of pints of locally made brew.

“The Elites have fed off the backs of our people slaughtering them and making us weak. But now we push back! We reclaim what is ours! And take back the mother Earth from the Elites!” Baxter shouted in cacophony.

His followers cheered in great praise.

“Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!” they shouted war cries.

People gathered outside the tower as Baxter gave his speech at the top of his voice. Hundreds and then thousands joined until it was a huge crowd.

Matt sat in shock and awe of his people, he did not know they existed only rumors and fairy tales. And now they had the numbers to over throw the Elites. Will it be enough to quell these corrupt, rich and powerful individuals he thought. But they could try for the sake of his family.